Daijiworld Media Network- Germany
Germany, Jul 22: What should have been a moment of pride for Indian badminton at the World University Games in Germany has now turned into a controversy, as shuttler Alisha Khan accused officials of deliberately excluding six eligible players from the mixed team competition, calling it an act of career sabotage.
Taking to social media, Alisha—one of the 12 selected players—expressed anguish that only six players were submitted for participation by the officials during the team managers’ meeting on July 16, despite all 12 being eligible under FISU rules.
“We travelled, we trained, we sacrificed, and yet we were denied the chance to even participate. This isn’t just mismanagement, it’s career sabotage,” Alisha wrote on Instagram.
While the six chosen players went on to win bronze—India’s first mixed team medal in the event—the others were left out of the official team list, thereby losing eligibility for recognition, certificates, government job quotas, and monetary awards.
The squad that competed included Sathish Kumar Karunakaran, Saneeth Dayanand, Vaishnavi Khadkekar, Tasnim Mir, Devika Sihag, and Varshini Viswanath Sri. However, Alisha Khan, Rohan Kumar, Aditi Bhatt, and others were left out, allegedly due to a "careless blunder" by the officials.
In response to the allegations, Baljeet Singh, head of the Indian delegation, confirmed that the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has taken the matter seriously and has sought a detailed report from the team management.
“It’s unfortunate that instead of celebrating a historic medal, we’re addressing a controversy. We’ve asked for written accounts from all concerned players and will take appropriate action,” Singh told The Tribune.
He added that, according to the information available to him, the coaches opted for a stronger team in a bid to secure a medal—a decision that ultimately bore fruit, though not without consequences.
India reached the semifinals by defeating Macau, USA, and Malaysia, before going down to Chinese Taipei in the last four, settling for bronze.
The controversy has sparked calls for accountability and greater transparency in team selection processes, especially at international university-level competitions where careers are shaped by medals and recognition.
The AIU’s report and the testimonies of omitted players are expected to determine if disciplinary action will be taken and whether corrective measures will be implemented in future selections.