Injured Kashyap Asks For Rest, Gets Air-Tickets to Play SA Games

Ignoring P Kashyap’s repeated requests for rehabilitation, BAI has sent air tickets for him to play at the SA Games.

India’s Parupalli Kashyap returns the shuttlecock to Japan’s Kento Momota during their men’s singles semifinal match at the Indonesia Open badminton tournament (Photo: AP)

His repeated requests for rehabilitation ignored, Commonwealth Games gold-medallist P Kashyap has been left flummoxed after being sent air tickets to join the Indian badminton squad at the South Asian Games despite being laid low by an abdominal strain.

Once the world No.8, Kashyap has been dogged by injuries and his ranking slipped to 14 in the latest chart. With 12 weeks left to earn a berth for the Rio Olympics, the Indian shuttler is racing against time to even be fit for competing in the tournaments crucial to fetch qualifying points. Kashyap had already written a letter to Badminton Association of India (BAI) and the Ministry, requesting that he be allowed to skip the South Asian Games.

I lost out a lot of time because of the injury. I missed out on as many as seven tournaments. I managed to play at PBL and Syed Modi Grand Prix Gold, but again I had an abdominal strain in Lucknow and I had to withdraw from Thailand Masters as well. But now BAI and the Government want me to play at the South Asian Games. I am in no position to play. I can’t play. I have sent letters to BAI, and the ministry explaining my situation. I also spoke to DG, SAI Injeti Srinivas but still I haven’t got any positive response. On the contrary, I got the tickets for Guwahati today. I am feeling very frustrated,

<b>Parupalli Kashyap, Shuttler</b>

The 29-year-old feels that his case should have been treated differently.

He says, he understands that India is hosting the event and Government wants to showcase the best team. He has just 12 weeks to qualify for the Olympics. Out of which I can also play for seven weeks and train for 5 weeks.

If I play, I might again aggravate my injury.

<b> Parupalli Kashyap, Shuttler</b>

Kashyap suffered a calf muscle tear in his left leg during the French Open in October, last year. It completely upset his Olympic preparation. The qualification for the Rio would depend on world rankings in May and Kashyap have to do really well in the international events to improve his standings and make it to the Rio Games.

Everybody else have at least played all through the year. I missed out because of injury and now I need at least four weeks to be fit for the European circuit. Kashyap is hoping that he qualifies for Rio by doing well in the first three events of European circuit.

However, the South Asian Games have thrown a spanner in his work. Left with no option, the 29-year-old wrote letters to the Badminton Association of India (BAI), Sports Ministry and Chief National coach P Gopichand.

Saina Nehwal posted this picture with Indian badminton star Parupalli Kashyap and her World Championship silver after the match. (Courtesy: Sania Nehwal’s Facebook page)

Top Indian shuttlers including Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu are also reluctant to play at the SAG and according to a BAI source, they too have written letter to the BAI citing illness and fitness issues to skip the event. Indian shuttlers are also set to compete at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in Hyderabad from 15-21 February and participating in SA games will disrupt their training and tournament schedule.

Last Wednesday, BAI had announced that World No.2 Saina and World No.9 Srikanth will be spearheading a strong 15-member squad for the Games. Double World Championship bronze medallist Sindhu and Kashyap, HS Prannoy, Ajay Jayaram, Jwala Gutta and Ashwini Ponnappa have also been named in the squad.