I failed to prove my innocence: Basak
Former national table tennis champion Arup Basak, who has been banned for a year for allegedly misbehaving with a foreign coach, on Wednesday said his only "guilt" was his failure to prove his innocence.
"Despite having committed no offence, I now have to admit that I am at fault. My only guilt is my failure to prove
my innocence,'' Basak said.
The executive committee of the Table Tennis Federation of
India on Tuesday slapped the ban on Basak, saying his
behaviour "did not not conform to the dignity of the guest, a
North Korean coach of international repute".
Basak, a SAF Games gold medallist, had reportedly
instigated some junior players against the coach last month
and led them to walk out of a coaching camp in Calcutta in the run-up
to the junior nationals.
Indicating that he might appeal against the order, he
said: ''I will take a decision on this in the coming days. Yes, I feel sad as I'll have to keep out of the
national championships for a year. But I hope time will heal
everything," he said, but added that he felt "relieved" that
the junior players had been exonerated and could now take part
in the senior nationals, beginning in Cuttack from Friday.
Basak also described as "unfortunate" the TTFI's decision
to sack coach Jayanta Pushilal, who was also found to have
instigated the players.
"It is unfortunate that a person who has honed so many
talented players now faces the stick. Now someone
less deserving will get the job," he added.