MAPUSA
The Goa Badminton Association (GBA) on Monday, clarified the rationale behind the selection process for the State squad for the 37th National Games in response to the recent complaints of three players.
While there were no medals won, both teams managed to showcase competitiveness where the women's team lost the bronze medal match to Punjab with a slender 3-2 margin, and the men produced respectable results.
In the press release the State-governing body for badminton stated, "The recent criticism alleging unfair selection processes, specifically concerning the inclusion of outstation players alongside local talent, is not accurate. We want to emphasize that the decision to have a 70-30 ratio in favor of Goan players was unanimously taken during the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) meeting in March. This policy aims to strike a balance between giving opportunities to Goan athletes and putting up a strong or significant performance at the Games."
The Association also pointed out that the SAG General Body, under the leadership of the Chief Minister and Sports Minister, approved the 70-30 ratio, demonstrating its commitment to enhancing the quality of the teams representing Goa.
"The conscious decision to include outstation players aligns with the Sports Authority of Goa guidelines and is not a new practice. Goa has previously adopted this approach even at the Lusofonia Games, to ensure Goa's teams perform competitively. The matter went up to the Hon. High Court of Bombay at Goa, which too endorsed the Goa Government policy."
With regard to the transfer of players, the governing body stated that it strictly followed the Transfer Policy of the Badminton Association of India and obtained the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from their respective states.
"It is important to clarify that outstation players as well as some of Goa's own players such as Anura Prabhu Desai and Pranjal Chimulkar, did train either in Goa or at outstation academies, again in line with SAG policy and guidelines for the National Games. Thus, the claims made that outstation players did not train at all, is grossly inaccurate," stated the Goa Badminton Association which also highlighted other games that includes outstation players, and even foreigners, to boost their squads, for the betterment of local talent.
