Photo via The Times of India

Para-shuttlers challenge Para Asian Games non-selection in Delhi HC

A group of India’s top para-badminton players has taken legal action in the Delhi High Court to challenge their exclusion from the upcoming Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Chirag Baretha, a two-time Asian Games medalist with silver in 2023 and bronze in 2018, leads the petition alongside Shashank Kumar, Ammu Mohan, and Manisha Patel.

The athletes argue they meet the Sports Ministry’s selection criteria—ranked within the top six in Asia—as Baretha and Mandeep Kaur were world No. 6 in their category on the July 14 cutoff date.

Their case hinges on the inclusion of Rakesh Pandey, who they claim lacks recent medals or rankings to justify his spot while facing a four-year doping ban suspension. The controversy also stems from procedural disputes over team pairings, including Pandey’s forced partnership with Umesh Vikram Kumar despite Vikram’s objections over being added to the doubles draw without consent.

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