Badminton: Plea in HC on age determination

The Karnataka High Court on Friday issued a notice to the Central government, Central Bureau of Investigation and Central Board of Secondary Education, in a petition seeking directions to prevent tampering with the date of birth in case of aspiring badminton players.

Nilesh G Prabhu and 35 others have moved the court seeking directions to the authorities concerned in this regard. The court also issued notices to Badminton Association of India, Sports Authority of India and the State Badminton Association.

The petitioners have stated that Badminton sport is gaining popularity in India rapidly due to many talented individuals winning laurels for the country at national and international levels. They have further contended there had been a spurt in the incidents where some ambitious parents tampered with the birth date of their child to gain an unfair advantage over other children who are of the right age for the sport.

The petitioners have said that in the authority governing some sports such as Chess had implemented mandatory documentary requirements alongside scientific methods to determine the correct age.

The petitioners have also contended that they had made several representations and suggestions to the authorities concerned in this regard. They have sought the court to direct the authorities consider their representations and also implement their suggestions within a timeframe.