New Delhi: Sports Minister Jitendra Singh has responded to his senior colleague in the government, Veerappa Moily's letter to him in connection with Jwala Gutta's ongoing impasse with the BAI, saying that he will examine her case and see how he can extend support to her.
In response to Petroleum Minister Moily's sternly-worded missive sent to him last week in support of Jwala, Jitendra said that all possible assistance has been given to her. Moily had asked for a fair treatment to the embattled badminton ace, who is facing a life ban for an alleged disciplinary breach in the Indian Badminton League. Jwala represents Petroleum Sports Promotion Board.
A top source in the Ministry told PTI that Jitendra has responded to Moily's letter, telling him that all possible help will be given to the ace shuttler. "We will get the matter examined and extend all support," Jitendra said in his letter to Moily, according to the source.
"The matter is already with the court and it is subjudice. Even the court has allowed the inquiry to go on," he said. "The Ministry is always there to support the sportspersons' cause and we will do that in Jwala's case as well," Jitendra said in the letter.
Jitendra said that Jwala has also been included as a core probable of the Indian team for next year's Commonwealth and Asian Games. "As far as Sports Ministry is concerned all the necessary assistance has been extended to Ms Jwala Gutta from time to time. She has been included as a core probable of the Indian team for the forthcoming Commonwealth and Asian Games to be held in 2014," said the Sports Minister in the letter.
Moily, in his letter dated October 23, had said that "a player of her (Jwala's) stature and reputation, who is a pride of our nation, is being treated in an unfair manner by the BAI over an apparent trivial issue". Moily had also threatened to end the petroleum sector's association with the Badminton Association of India.
"I may also like to mention that if the impasse continues for long which ultimately brings the sport and sportspersons to disrepute, petroleum sector may have to reconsider its association at various forms of support to BAI," Moily's letter had stated.
The doubles specialists, who is employed by Bharat Petroleum under the sportsperson category, has in recent times been involved in a battle with BAI. The BAI's disciplinary committee recommended a life ban on Jwala for trying to stop some players of her franchise Krrish Delhi Smashers from playing a match against Banga Beats in the Indian Badminton League in August this year.
Meanwhile, former India coach Vimal Kumar said he hoped that the issue would be sorted out at the earliest. "BAI is waiting for the inquiry to be over. I don't think BAI will come in the way of Jwala's participation. They are waiting for the decision to come and I have met the BAI president Akhilesh Dasgupta and I am sure the issue would be sorted out soon," said Vimal.
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