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.