Why is chief coach Gopichand silent on my ban, asks Jwala

Embattled shuttler Jwala Gutta is surprised that India's chief badminton coach, Pullela Gopichand, is still silent on the proposed life ban on her by the Badminton Association of India for alleged breach of discipline.

"I am really surprised why the chief coach is quiet. Why he has nothing to say?," asked Jwala.

"Former coaches like Arif sir and Vimal sir have spoken out. Vimal sir was the coach of Banga Beats; he also came out with his statement. If they can speak out, why can't the chief coach?

"I mean, he is not just the coach of his academy but of the whole country. He can tell me that Jwala what you did is wrong, but he should take a stand. Why is he not commenting?" she added.

The Delhi high court on Friday declined to grant stay on the ongoing inquiry proceedings by a committee set up by the BAI against ace shuttler Jwala for alleged indiscipline.

The Hyderabadi shuttler, who is currently in Paris playing in the French Open, said the issue is affecting her performance.

"I try that such things don't affect me, but I am also a human being and it harasses me. All these are there in the back of my head, things which are happening in India," she said.

Asked if she has the support of her fellow-shuttlers, Jwala said they are not openly voicing their support because they are scared of being victimised themselves.

"I understand that my fellow-Indian team members cannot voice their support openly because they are scared of themselves getting victimised. I am happy Ashwini (Ponnappa) stood by me," she added.

Following a disciplinary committee's recommendation for a life ban on Jwala on charges of indiscipline, a three-member committee was constituted earlier this month to evaluate the report and submit it within a month.

The committee had issued a show cause notice to Jwala on October 14 and she approached the high court challenging the notice and sought a stay on its proceedings against her.

However, the court said no interim order is required as the court has already granted relief to her by asking the BAI to allow her to participate in the national and international tournament. The court granted her two weeks time to respond to the committee's show cause notice.

The court had, on October 10, stayed the BAI's decision to deny her participation in any international tournament in or outside the country in view of the disciplinary committee's recommendation for life ban on her.

The BAI's disciplinary committee recommended a life for allegedly trying to stop some players of her franchise, Krrish Delhi Smashers, from playing a match against Banga Beats in the Indian Badminton League in August.

The controversy had erupted during the August 25 tie when Delhi Smashers had allegedly threatened to pull out against Banga Beats over the last-minute replacement of injured singles player Hu Yun of Hong Kong with Denmark's Jan Jorgense.