Detractors attempting to bring disrepute to BAI: Anup Narang

In the wake of various media reports alleging Badminton Association of India (BAI) of displaying nepotism and sending their

kids to a goodwill trip to Japan, Anup Narang, General Secretary of BAI, on Thursday, said that all the charges are just an attempt to malign and bring the association to disrepute.

"The recent media reports hold no truth and even the Sports Minister Vijay Goyal has clearly stated in a statement that the event in question was a cultural exchange program and Sports Ministry had nothing to do with the programme," Narang said.

"The media reports stating that investigations have been initiated against the association and the president of BAI Akhilesh Das Gupta are false and misleading. Such efforts are purely been instigated by few interested parties who want to malign the reputation and prestige of BAI," Narang added.

In addition to denying allegations against BAI, Narang alleged that expelled General Secretary Vijay Sinha is the one trying to malign the image of the federation.

"BAI would like to bring to notice that General Secretary of BAI Vijay Sinha has been expelled by the Executive Committee (EC) held in Bangalore on January 9, 2017 and he has been using all malicious means out of sheer desperation to bring disrepute to the Federation."

"Sinha and his son, Nishant Sinha, who have been probed by an independent judicial committee, have been found guilty of serious charges of sexual harassment, misappropriation, fraud, nepotism, embezzlement and fraud and an FIR has been lodged with Lucknow Police based on the advice of the independent body's findings, are continuously trying to defame by spreading wrong and misleading information" Narang further alleged.

Sinha has also been expelled from the UP Badminton Association (UPBA) and the father and son duo are currently said to be absconding.