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IOA official backs Prakash's breakaway body

Two days after the Maharashtra State Badminton Association broke away from the parent body and sought affiliation with the breakaway body, no less that G Somashekarappa, vice president of the Indian Olympic Association, came out strongly in his support.

"We are," Somashekarappa said in a press release, "strongly with Prakash, who has formed the IBC to promote the game of badminton in the country and, through it, the Olympic movement."

The IOA official's release is a reaction, apparently, to some statements made by BAI president Fazil Ahmed, wherein he had condemned Prakash as a 'paid coach' who didn't know any better.

"...I am compelled to condemn Fazil Ahmed's statements against Prakash Padukone, who is the emobdiment of all the good things in sports and the Olympic movement, not only in Karnataka but all over the world," Somasekarappa said. "I can only hope that good sense will prevail on Fazil Ahmed and that he will come to his senses and refrain from fighting the foces which are opposed to his dictatorial management."

Somasekharappa added, however, that his statement should not be confused as being indicative of official IOA recognition of Padukone's breakaway body. "Such recognition can follow only after the IOA examines the merits and demerits of the case for the newly created IBC."

Meanwhile, the MBA confirmed that it would go ahead with the conduct of the all-India tournament scheduled for next month, though it was sanctioned by the BAI to which the MBA is no longer affiliated.

The Sushant Chipalkatti memorial all-India tournament for juniors, thus, will be held in Pune from July 9 to July 12.

The V V Natu memorial senior and under-19 tournaments had also been allocated to the MBA, but it seems likely that it will now be held under the aegis of the IBC.