The Bombay high court on Tuesday granted relief to a 19-year-old badminton player who had moved a petition accusing chief national coach Pullela Gopi Chand of mental harassment after she was refused entry to the national camp at Gopichand's academy in Hyderabad.
Petitioner Prajakta Sawant
was given relief by a division bench of chief justice Mohit Shah and justice NM Jamdar, allowing her to attend the camp. The bench said that she may be allowed to train but the selection should be made based on her merit.
Sawant stated in her petition that she was selected for the training camp (Oct 4 to Dec 12), but when she asked for her doubles and mixed doubles partners to be changed, Gopi Chand became vindictive.
Sawant also said in her petition that the coach had ruined the career of many players and urged the court to order an inquiry against Gopi Chand. She also pleaded that the court restrain him from sending badminton teams tournaments this month.