No effect of England withdrawal from Badminton Championship: Pillai

The government today said the "running away" of English team from the World Badminton Championship in Hyderabad citing terror threats had no effect on the tournament as players of 42 countries were still playing in the elite event.

The government on Tuesday said the "running away" of English team from the World Badminton Championship in Hyderabad citing terror threats had no effect on the tournament as players of 42 countries were still playing in the elite event.

HT Image

"It had no effect. 42 teams are still playing. The England team just over-reacted," Union Home Secretary GK
Pillai said when asked to comment on the withdrawal of England from the championships citing Lashkar-e-Toiba threats.

"They run away out of individual fear. The British High Commission was not consulted," he said.

Pillai said he was trying to confirm a report that two members of the England team stayed back for the tournament.

Asked whether Britain could withdraw from the next year's Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in Delhi, Pillai
remarked "England is not a major team for the Commonwealth Games."

England on Sunday had announced an eleventh-hour withdrawal from the World Badminton Championship citing Lashkar-e-Toiba threats despite assertions by the government that there was no danger to the week-long event.