India’s top doubles shuttler Jwala Gutta may take a legal action against Badminton Association of India (BAI) for threatening to ban her for life over a row during the Indian Badminton League (IBL). Jwala’s coach Syed Mohammad Arif said he has advised her to file a defamation suit against BAI for going to press without issuing her a ban notice. The top shuttler has not yet reacted to recommendation of the BAI’s disciplinary committee for a life ban on her for trying to stop players of her franchise Krrish Delhi Smashers from playing a match against Bangla Beats. She was agitated after Bangla Beats were allowed to replace their injured Hong Kong player Hu Yun with Jan O Jorgensen of Denmark. She is maintaining silence at the advise of Arif. ‘I asked her not to react till the federation issues her a notice. She can then move to court. I, in fact, advised her to file a defamation case. This is cruelest joke on badminton and on a player of Jwala’s calibre,’ Arif, former chief national coach, told IANS, adding she committed no mistake and hence there is no question of apology. BAI president Akhilesh Das Gupta has said if Jwala tenders an unconditional apology, her case may be reconsidered. Arif said BAI had repeatedly insulted Jwala, the player who brought laurels to the country by winning bronze medal at World Championship and gold at Commonwealth Games. The coach said Jwala went by the direction of sponsors of her team by not fielding the team to protest last-minute replacement of Bangla Beats.