The Badminton Association of India (BAI) today informed the Bombay High Court that it has included shuttler Prajakta Sawant in the core Indian team.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha was hearing a petition filed by 19-year-old Sawant last year, alleging mental harassment by India's chief national coach Pullela Gopichand and that she was left out of the All India National Coaching Camp held in Hyderabad.
She further alleged that Gopichand being the national coach and a member of the BAI selection committee, promoted players from his private academy, Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy in Hyderabad, and she was being targeted.
BAI counsel Nimay Dhave today informed the court that Sawant has been included in the core team based on her performance in the last tournament and would be given all those privileges other players in the team enjoy.
Dhave, however, added that there is no permanent entry in the group and if Sawant fails to perform well in any tournament and her rank drops she would be removed from the team.
While Dhave sought disposal of the petition, Sawant's lawyer Piyush Shah opposed and said if the petition is disposed of, then Gopichand would not "spare" Sawant and she would again face problems.
The court has posted the petition for further hearing on February 17.
