New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Badminton Association of India (BAI) to allow Jwala Gutta to participate in tournaments and suspended the recommended life ban on her.
Jwala moved the high court on Wednesday challenging the BAI disciplinary committee’s recommended life ban on her last week for threatening to forfeit an Indian Badminton League (IBL) fixture in Bangalore on August 25, eventually delaying the tie by half an hour.
The BAI appointed an independent panel on Monday to look into the issue and barred her from national selection pending the panel’s report.
Justice VK Jain, however, told the BAI: “You must allow her to play”.
The court also allowed Jwala to participate in the upcoming Denmark Open Super Series Premier (Oct 15-20), from which BAI withdrew her entry late on Wednesday.
The court directed the BAI to withdraw the communication sent to the tournament organisers on pulling her out and permit her to participate.
The court also pointed out that in the absence of a final decision, the BAI’s action against Jwala was “premature” and the association ought to have waited for the panel’s report “instead of taking such an extreme action in the meanwhile”.
The ban was recommended on Jwala for trying to stop her team, Krrish Delhi Smashers, from playing Banga Beats in the IBL fixture. Delhi had threatened to abandon the match over the last minute replacement of injured singles player Hu Yun of Hong Kong with Denmark’s Jan O Jorgensen, a higher ranked shuttler.
Jwala was ecstatic at the court’s decision.
“Yeyy happy….allowed to play tournaments…never thought i would have to ask court for permission to play but very happy with orders. I think I’m so lucky to have support from my team owners…Patak sir and Amit katyal…I am proud to be a part of #KrrishDelhiSmashers,” tweeted an elated Jwala.
However, a pensive BAI said it will take a decision only after going through the copy of the Delhi High Court judgment. (IANS)