Last Updated:
Pramod Bhagat has urged authorities to take action against former head coach Gaurav Khanna for publicly predicting India’s medal tally at the Asian Para Games.
Pramod Bhagat won silver at the recent Asian Para Games. (PTI Photo)
Tokyo Paralympic champion Pramod Bhagat has questioned the conduct of former Indian badminton head coach Gaurav Khanna after the latter publicly forecast India’s medal haul a day before the finals of the recently concluded Asian Para Games in Japan. Bhagat called on the authorities to investigate the matter and establish appropriate guidelines.
Khanna sparked controversy with a social media post, which he later deleted, outlining his prediction for India’s medal tally in badminton.
He predicted India to win a 16 medals, consisting of two gold, six silver and eight bronze, ahead of the final day’s events.
India ended the competition with the same overall tally but a different medal distribution – three gold, five silver and eight bronze.
At the previous Asian Para Games in 2022, India secured 21 medals in para badminton, including four gold, four silver and 13 bronze.
Bhagat said publicly disclosing such predictions before the conclusion of a major tournament was inappropriate, particularly when the person making them had held the position of head coach.
“I find it extremely unprofessional and ethically wrong to publish medal statements by name a day before the conclusion of a prestigious tournament like Asian Para Games, particularly when they come from someone who identifies himself as its head coach. Such actions raise serious questions about professional responsibility and impartiality,” Bhagat told news agency PTI.
He also pointed to the established practice of announcing the contingent’s final medal count only after the competition has ended, arguing that premature projections could affect athletes and India’s image among competing nations.
“BAI traditionally announces contingent’s overall medal tally after the tournament concludes, allowing every athlete to compete without preconceived narratives about the outcome. It’s also an embarrassing situation when athletes of other countries are also referring such unethical behaviour,” he said.
Khanna runs a badminton academy in Lucknow and has coached several players who have competed at the highest level.
Bhagat wants the Badminton Association of India (BAI), the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and other relevant authorities to review the episode.
“I sincerely hope BAI, SAI and the concerned authorities take this matter seriously and examine it appropriately. As athletes representing India, we deserve a fair and supportive environment in which to compete. Such incidents should not be ignored, and clear guidelines must be established to ensure they are not repeated in the future,” he said.
The criticism has also come from India’s para badminton chairman K Prabhakar Rao, who reckons that Khanna’s prediction placed athletes under psychological pressure.
Rao said he would bring the issue before BAI and seek appropriate action.
Bhagat, a six-time world champion, was himself named in Khanna’s post.
He had tipped him to claim silver in the men’s singles SL3 category.
Bhagat ultimately finished runner-up after losing to countrymate Nitesh Kumar in the final.
Reflecting on the prediction, Bhagat stressed that the outcome of a match cannot be determined in advance and warned against the pressure such public assessments could create.
“In my case, I was predicted to win silver in the men’s singles SL3 final, which I eventually lost to Nitesh Kumar. Every match is different, and no outcome is certain until the final point is played. Such predictions can create unnecessary pressure on athletes, influence public perception and lead to negativity towards players who do not achieve the predicted results,” he said.
The 38-year-old from Bihar said the Indian team had remained positive throughout the tournament and that athletes should have been able to approach the decisive day without added distractions.
“Statements like these risk creating tension at a crucial stage when athletes need support, not additional distractions,” he said.
“There is also a longstanding practice in badminton of maintaining neutrality when two Indian players face each other in any tournament at any level. In this context, publicly predicting the outcome of an India-versus-India final raises concerns about fairness and professional conduct,” he added.
On Tuesday, players submitted a complaint against Khanna to the Sports Ministry, SAI, the BAI president and secretary general, among others.
They requested a formal inquiry and appropriate disciplinary action against him.
With PTI Inputs
Quick Answers
Ask News18Indian para-shuttlers, including Pramod Bhagat, filed a formal complaint requesting an inquiry and disciplinary action after former head coach Gaurav Khanna published a controversial social media post predicting India’s exact medal tally and specific match outcomes a day before the Asian Para Games finals.
Ask News18About the Author
Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience …Read More
October 29, 2026, 3:18 PM IST
Read More
Source link
[ad_3]
