The girl born in 2006 was found playing in the under-15 category.
The Badminton Association of India (BAI) is continuing its crackdown on age fraud. At the ongoing All India sub-junior ranking tournament in Panchkula, Haryana, organizers have banned a top under-15 girls player from competing. The girl, who represented the country at the Asian Championships last December, was born in 2006 and yet was playing in the under-15 category.
“We had two birth certificates for the same player in our possession. We confronted her parents with the documents and asked them to withdraw from the tournament,” BAI Vice-President and Haryana Badminton Association General Secretary Ajay Kumar Singhania said.
The girl’s father, when reached on the phone, said, “Abhi maine withdraw hi karaaya hai. Baad me baat karenge (For now we have withdrawn her entry. We will speak more later).”
The BAI recently announced a Voluntary Age Rectification Scheme (VARS), an amnesty offer whereby players have till June 25 to willfully correct their age records. There will be no penalty on them. But after June 25, the BAI will conduct bone tests on those suspected of age fraud and take action if necessary.
“If those with an age discrepancy don’t self-declare by June 25, we will do a TW3 test on them. Whoever is guilty will have to face punishment and that could include a ban and police inquiry,” Singhania said. “I want to make it clear that the BAI is going to be very strict about curbing age fraud. And I also want to tell parents of players who have suffered due to age fraud on part of their opponents to come to us instead of going to the court.”
The girl asked to withdraw from the Panchkula tournament is from Uttarakhand. Out of sensitivity, her name is not mentioned. This is because often, the main culprits in such cases are the player’s parents or coaches, and the player is too young to stop them. But if they continue to be repeat offenders, her name will be out. In any case, her identity is not a secret on the circuit.
“What parents refuse to understand is their myopia can cause long-term professional and psychological damage to their children due to the loss of face from their fraud,” a parent said on condition of anonymity. “It’s best for everyone if they make use of the VARS.”