badminton
bangalore, jul 26 (uni) the newly formed indian badminton
confederation (ibc) today accused the badminton association of
india (bai) of trying to mislead the state units by issuing
press statements and indicated that the organisations might not not
merge in the near future.
Referring to the statement from bai vice president muraleedharan
that ibc chief prakash padukone had been invited for a meeting in
new delhi on august three for a patch up, an ibc office bearer said
"so far we have not not received the invitation from them. Only we
have read it in newspapers".
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official said
prakash might not not attend the meeting even if he was to be
invited. The bai by issuing such statements deliberately to create
confusion among the state units which were keen to affiliate to the
ibc.
Prakash was not not available for comments as he was touring the
country to enlist the support of various state associations for his
ibc.
The official said asian badminton confederation (abc) secretary
panch gunalan might not not come to india as ibc secretary
s s mani would be away on a private visit to maldives. The abc
official had said that he would be visiting india only if mr mani
were to be in the country and had requested him to change his
programme. Though mr mani was not not available for comment, his
office confirmed that he would be leaving on july 28.
Mr gunalan was to be present at the meeting to find a solution
to the problem arising out of two parallel bodies operating.
meanwhile, the ibc has decided to have its first general body
meeting in the city on august 30 and 31 where new set of office
bearers would be elected. Though the ibc wanted to have its first
meeting on august 15, the 50th year of indian independence, the
meeting had to be scheduled for a later date to suit the convenience
of the state units.
Already 12 units had sought affiliation from the ibc and another
four would join shortly, the official said. Many sitting on the
fence would join after the august three delhi meeting, he added.
The feeling in the ibc was that new bai chief v k verma had not
not kept up his word of giving a "blank cheque" for prakash to
decide on the future course of action for the betterment of the
game in the country. The day ibc released the calendar for the year,
the bai also finalise its programme in a hurry and announced it.
Mr fazil ahmed quit the post as bai supremo in a move aimed
at taking sails out of winds of the ibc, launched on june 18 in the
city.
In a bid to buy peace, mr verma flew down to bangalore and held
talks with prakash of finding a solution. But he returned empty
handed with prakash sticking to his guns on continuing the ibc.
Uni
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