Paralympic gold medalist Nitesh Kumar slams BAI for negligence

Fresh off his gold medal victory at the Paris Paralympics, India's para-badminton star Nitesh Kumar has publicly criticised the Badminton Association of India (BAI) for its alleged negligence towards para-badminton.

In a strongly worded tweet, Nitesh Kumar expressed his and fellow athletes’ dissatisfaction with the BAI's handling of para-badminton responsibilities, despite rare social media praise from the association.

Kumar's tweet directly called for the handover of para-badminton to the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) from the BAI and Sports Authority of India (SAI), tagging key figures like Sports Minister Mansukh Mandviya, Minister of State for Yoth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse, and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his plea for intervention.

The IIT Mandi graduate won the gold medal at the Paris Paralympics with a victory over Great Britain's Daniel Bethell in a thrilling three-set match.

However, his recent outburst highlights the simmering discontent within the para-badminton community regarding the lack of support and recognition from the governing body.

Kumar's call for change has resonated with many, sparking a debate about the management of para-sports in India.

The BAI is yet to respond to Kumar's allegations, and it remains to be seen how the authorities will address this growing concern.