Karnataka High Court allows Indian badminton players to play in GBPL 2023
The Karnataka High Court has allowed Indian badminton players to participate in the second season of the Grand Prix Badminton League (GBPL) to be held from August 27 to September 9. The High Court has stayed the circular issued by the Badminton Association of India (BAI) asking players not to participate in the tournament. The BAI had issued circulars on April 10 and July 5, warning players not to participate in ‘unrecognised tournaments’. This was challenged before the Karnataka High Court which has now stayed the operation of the BAI’s circular. The high court, in its July 21 order, also ordered BAI not to take any action against the players, coach and technical staff. “Staying the circular, further restraining the respondent no.2 from taking any coercive action against the badminton players, coaches and technical staff,” the high court said in its order.
The first tournament of GPBL started last year with players from Karnataka. This year it has been expanded to include players from Tier I and Tier II cities across the country as well as international players. In its circular issued on July 5, BAI had warned players, “If any registered person is found violating this notice, they shall be liable to appropriate action as per BAI rules.” It added, “If anyone intends to participate in such tournament even after such notice, it shall be at his own risk.” Over 450 registrations were received for the league, in which 56 international players were included in the ‘Players’ Roster’.
Some of the top Indian names include former World Championship bronze medalist B Sai Praneeth, national champion Mithun Manjunath, Orleans Masters winner Priyanshu Rajawat, Sai Prateek, Rohan Kapoor.The international players include Russian men’s doubles pair of Vladimir Ivanov and Ivan Sazonov, as well as Sergey Sirant of Russia, Julien Caragi of Belgium. However, after the circular of BAI, many top players were skeptical about participating in the league.
