Opaque selection, forced pairings in doubles: Para-shuttlers question non-selection of Para Asian Games in Delhi HC

NEW DELHI: Chirag Baretha is a two-time Asian Games medallist, winning silver in 2023 and bronze in 2018. Instead of focusing on the upcoming Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, which begin on October 18, he is running from pillar to post trying to keep his fading dream of representing India alive. The 29-year-old also won bronze medals at the 2024 BWF Para Badminton World Championships, the 2025 Asian Para Badminton Championships and the 2026 World Para Badminton Championships.Baretha, along with fellow parashuttlers Shashank Kumar, Ammu Mohan and Manisha Patel, filed a case in the Delhi High Court against the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYAS), Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), Badminton Association of India (BAI) and Sports Authority of India (SAI) for not selecting them.In a petition accessed by TimesofIndia.com, the parashuttlers say they meet the selection criteria set by the Sports Ministry, which requires them to be in the top six in Asia. Baretha and Mandeep Kaur were ranked 6th in the world in the SL3-SU5 category on 14 July 2026 when the rankings were judged for the Asian Para Games.Subsequently, the petition argues that “Rakesh Pandey has not won or won any medal in the last 12 months or ranked lower than the petitioners in the International Athlete Ranking. Moreover, he was banned for 4 years for failing an Anti-Doping Test.”The men’s doubles team of Rakesh Pandey and Dev Rathi was ranked world No. 3 in the SU5 category at the deadline. However, Rakesh is expected to partner Umesh Vikram Kumar in the men’s doubles at the Asian Para Games while finding a place in the men’s singles event.It also has a layer of intrigue. In an e-mail sent to qualified para-shuttlers on 25 August, K Prabhakar Rao, chairman of para-badminton at the Badminton Association of India (BAI), clarified that “for a pair to be considered valid for referral, separate e-mails must be received from both players, with each player listing the other as their partner for the event”.In response, Baretha, who was listed on the Badminton World Federation (BWF) entry list, registered in the singles (SU5 category), men’s doubles (SU5 with Hardik Makkar) and mixed doubles (SL3-SU5 with Mandeep Kaur).However, Vikram, Pandey’s partner at the Asian Para Games, expressed displeasure that his name was added to the doubles draw without his consent. “Sir, I have not given consent to participate in MD SL3 SU5. How can (sic) my name appear in the doubles? Make sure you remove my name from the doubles without affecting my entry in the singles,” he wrote in the Asian Para Games athletes WhatsApp group. He addressed the message to Prabhakar Rao and coach Venkata Murali Krishna.However, his plea was not heard. “Vikram, we can discuss it in a physical meeting at the hotel. No adjustments are allowed at this stage. We have already discussed with the umpire, people from ABC (Asian Badminton Confederation).A disgruntled Vikram replied, “Sir, I will reach the hotel late tonight and by then the draw will be announced. My name should not be entered without my consent. Pandey bhaiya can play with Hardik (Makkar).”There is no way out for Vikram. The rules state that if a player withdraws from one discipline, he withdraws from the entire tournament.

We fight on merit. We are medalists. We are rank holders. We followed the SAI guidelines. But Mr. Prabhakar Rao cheated us and affected our four years career and efforts.

Chirag Baretha

This sequence of events and the eventual loss of his place in the contingent has Baretha upset.“We are fighting on merit. We are medal holders. We are rank holders. We followed SAI guidelines. But Mr. Prabhakar Rao deceived us and affected our career and efforts for four years,” Baretha told TimesofIndia.com.“I am Asia No. 6 and I qualified through my ranking. Even if you ignore that, I will fulfill the additional clause of being a medalist from previous games. The same was true for Suhas (Lalinakere Yathiraj) who was not in the top six but won a medal (gold) last time.”

The Badminton Association of India had no say in this. We have not included or excluded athletes to the best of our ability. We got this list from SAI and followed it.

To Prabhakar Rao

“Before my name was withdrawn in the managers’ meeting, the draw was such that I was destined to reach the final. I was able to beat all but one player. I could guarantee the country a silver medal,” he added confidently.K Prabhakar Rao said that the selection of the team was not theirs in the first place.“The Badminton Association of India had no say in this. We did not include or exclude athletes as per our option. We got this list from SAI and followed it,” he told TimesofIndia.com.The exclusion of former head coach Gaurav Khanna is believed to have been a major factor in the entire selection. Khanna, who founded India’s first para-badminton academy (Gaurav Khanna Excellia Badminton Academy), has the likes of Suhas and Baretha under his wing.Baretha alleged that senior parachutists were instrumental in creating a negative impression of Khanna among SAI officials. “These senior athletes have created a bad aura in front of Sports Authority of India. They have also hurt me. These include Sukant Kadam, Nitesh Kumar, Pramod Bhagat and Rakesh Pandey himself.”“They go on about the academy, but at least look at my credentials. Look at my medals, my placings. I’m talking about my accomplishments.”In the days following the squad’s announcement and Baretha’s omission on 12 October, Baretha, Shashank Kumar and Ammu Mohan approached the Delhi High Court and met Dr Pallavi Rai, Director of SAI (TEAMS Division), but did not receive a satisfactory response. Their repeated attempts to get clarification from BAI secretary Sanjay Mishra and K Prabhakar Rao also did not yield results.Parachutists are not the only aggrieved group of Indian athletes. Para-shooters and para-cyclists also demanded a fairer and more transparent selection process. They staged a protest during the elimination ceremony on October 8.India has sent a 281-member contingent that includes 168 athletes to the Asian Para Games.

ORDER OF EVENTS

September 24, 2025: The Ministry of Sports issues the selection criteria for the Asian Games and the Asian Para Games.October 2026: BAI reiterates selection criteria for Asian Para Games.October 12: SAI announces contingent for Asian Para Games.October 13: Para-shuttles converge in Delhi to travel to the Games.October 13: Chirag Baretha, Shashank Kumar, Ammu Mohan and Manisha Patel are petitioning the Delhi High Court over their non-selection.October 14: Parachutists check in at Aichi-Nagoya.October 16: Badminton begins at the Asian Para Games.October 18: The Asian Para Games are officially underway.