Besmirching the fair name of KBA

AMONG THE major sports, badminton has enjoyed an unique position in Karnataka. The exploits by the legendary Prakash Padukone, had pushed the game to a pinnacle in the 1970s and 1980s and the glorious tradition was kept alive by a clutch of promising youngsters and a caring association, besides Prakash's own badminton Academy.The Karnataka Badminton Association, in particular was a body which evoked envy as well as admiration. It was well run and the administrators were an imaginative bunch, who with their visionary zeal were instrumental in building a magnificent edifice called the Raheja Karnataka Badminton Association Stadium, which has world class badminton infrastructure with ten courts, players' rooms, gymnasium, mini pool and club house facilities. Few years ago, one would not have imagined that the KBA's success story of team work would end up as a street squabble among members, some of whom seemed to be hell bent on wrecking all the good work, with factional politics. The KBA today presents a sorry picture with its erstwhile administrators on a collision course with the life members.

The trouble brew for the KBA over the years as it strove to sustain its club house, threw open its doors for life membership and people came in droves, paying hefty fees to become members and KBA now has over 1200 members, who enjoy its facilities. But somehow down the line, the tension began building up between the managing committee headed by Mr. S. S. Mani, who is also the secretary of the Badminton Association of India and the club members. The latter had become very vocal about voting rights, and having their say in running the association. This was resented by Mr. Mani's team, which perceived that granting voting rights to the members, would amount to violating the Badminton Association of India's constitution, which had stipulated that all state associations should be run by a committee elected by the district units. Things came to a head, when KBA Executive Committee sacked Dr. Ramesh Moola, its President for alleged ``anti-association'' activities as Mr. Mani put it.All hell-broke loose soon as the KBA club house members convening a General Body meeting of the KBA on August 13, overwhelmingly voted for conferring voting rights to all life members. Mr. Mani, then along with his committee resigned as he felt that giving voting rights to all, would marginalise the district units. The administration of the KBA was entrusted to Mr. Mallikarjuna, as a care taker Secretary, till the elections.

Explaining his stand, Mr. Mani said: ``Their action violated the BAI constitution itself, life members are ineligible for voting rights. Moreover, they had been insistent that district associations presence in KBA committee should be reduced to five, where as they have 13 district associations. They had demanded that none from districts should become the President or Secretary of the Association, which is simply not acceptable'', said Mr. Mani.

Mani's action invited the wrath of the life members who charged that Mani was being selective in interpreting the rules. Mr. Suhas Shanbag, the spokesman for the life members said: ``We are not for sidelining the district associations, but as a registered body under the State Cooperative Societies Act, KBA should give all life members, the voting rights. It was a different matter, when KBA was just an association running the game alone, but now it has this huge facility and big money is involved in running the Association. So we insist that members elect a committee to administer the association and the club house and it should not be one man show''.

Mr. Mani is bitter that a campaign of slander has been unleashed against him. ``I would like to ask where were all these people, who clamour for voting rights, when this building was being built. Everyone in the game knows the amount of sacrifice and hard work I put in to make KBA Stadium a reality and I was not there for power and the results are there for everyone to see'', said Mani.

With status quo continuing as both sides are firm in their respective stands, the game has become the sufferer. The KBA is supposed to host the Mini National championship in Mandya in November, there is a question mark over it pending the KBA elections. There are also doubts about Padukone's Academy functioning from the Association premises. But the members denied that there was a move to demand for PPBA's relocation. ``In fact, we would like to bring back Prakash into the administration'', they asserted.

Prakash Padukone is miffed over the situation. ``I am sorry to note that things have come to such a pass. I am staying clear of the row. I sincerely hope there will be a patch up. As regards the Academy, as long as we (PPBA) are allowed to function in KBA, we will have the academy here, if they don't want us, we will shift'', said Prakash.

Mr. Mani warned that the impasse cannot continue for long. ``The district associations are firmly behind me and want me to lead. While, we wish to avoid a split, if our hands are tied, we will go our way for the sake of the game'', he said.

But this is precisely what most badminton enthusiasts and well wishers dread. The efforts are on for rapproachement and one formula which is being bandied about is giving the life members the control over the club house, while game's administration, stays with Mr. Mani and his supporters. ``I am amenable to any meaningful dialogue but the problem is there are certain people who want total control'', said Mr. Mani.

The sooner the mess is cleared, the better it will be for the fair name of the game in Karnataka.

KALYAN ASHOK

Bangalore

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