Federation politics will harm Delhi shuttlers: Azhar

New Delhi: Recently-appointed president of the Delhi Badminton Association (DBA) Mohammed Azharuddin on Monday said federation politics will cause players a lot of suffering.

The Badminton Association of India (BAI) had in March disaffiliated DBA saying that the body had not followed the constitution and thereby created the Delhi Capital Badminton Association (DCBA) to govern the sport in the capital. The BAI website also recently mentioned that DBA is now a defunct body. "This is not good for the badminton players because at the end of the day they are the one`s who will suffer. They will be in a dilemma which association to play for. As a sportsperson I care about them and this will only harm the badminton players of Delhi," said Azhar, who took over the reins from Vinod Dhawan who resigned in April following the decision of the BAI to recognise DCBA. "I am not here to fight with anyone but I felt this was a genuine case so I came into the frame. The DBA has been taken for a ride. When there is already one association to govern the sport, how can you elect another. This is against the sports charter. BAI has flouted its own constitution in doing this," added the former India cricket captain. The Congress Member of Parliament from Moradabad claimed that DBA wasn`t even given a chance to justify itself. "DBA wasn`t even given any chance to justify itself. We have not been given even a chance of a hearing. I think the DBA has done a good job in hosting several tournaments in the last 30 years," said the 50-year-old. BAI had recently said that DBA had not carried out its duties properly in the last few years. On the same issue, Azhar said: "BAI is giving lame excuses. We have written to the sports ministry who have in turn asked questions to the BAI. We are waiting for BAI`s reaction to the ministry and then we will see what to do." The DBA had filed a petition in the court and hearing of the case is to be held Sep 3. DBA secretary general S.P. Singh also echoed similar sentiments. "We were not given any showcause notice. We just came to know that DCBA was affiliated and we became defunct," said Singh. "Basically BAI wants to create their sister concern in Delhi with DCBA. This is nothing but dictatorship," said DBA vice-president Hitesh Jain. IANS