Baretha’s name vanished from the official entry list, sparking a legal fight that could ripple through India’s para‑badminton scene.
The 29‑year‑old, who bagged silver in 2023 and bronze in 2018, had met every selection criterion set by the Sports Ministry—top‑six Asian ranking and a recent medal record. Yet the Badminton Association of India (BAI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) omitted him from the final squad, citing a procedural quirk that demanded dual confirmation from each player in a pair.
In a dramatic twist, BAI chairman K Prabhakar Rao insisted that “no recommendation can be made unless both partners send separate emails naming each other.” Baretha, who had already registered for singles, men’s doubles with Hardik Makkar, and mixed doubles with Mandeep Kaur, saw his name stripped from the doubles draw without his consent.
The decision was met with fury from partner Umesh Vikram Kumar, who argued that his name should not appear in the men’s doubles event without explicit approval. “I will not give consent,” Vikram wrote, demanding removal of his name from the draw. The BAI’s response was that “no modification is allowed at this stage” and that the draw would be announced shortly.
Baretha’s frustration boiled over when he learned that Rakesh Pandey, a four‑year anti‑doping ban holder, was still selected for men’s doubles with Umesh, despite Pandey’s record and disciplinary history. “We are medal‑holders, rank‑holders, and we followed the SAI guidelines,” Baretha told TimesofIndia.com. He claimed that the selection process had been rigged, denying him a spot that could have guaranteed India a silver medal.
The Delhi High Court petition now hinges on whether the selection criteria were applied fairly and whether procedural breaches warranted a review of the squad. If the court sides with Baretha, it could force the BAI and SAI to overhaul their selection protocols before the Asian Para Games kick off on October 18.