Though Gopichand has continuously refused to speak on the issue, claiming the matter is sub-judice, the BAI has replied to Prajakta's latest (May 11) email through its lawyers.
Prajakta, in her letter, alleges that the national selectors have picked players, who are ranked much lower than her. "My international ranking is 78 and national ranking is 3 in doubles, but you have selected players like Pradnya Gadre, whose national ranking is 11 and international ranking is 87.
Further, you have selected Aparna Balan — a mixed doubles player in the women's team — when there is no mixed doubles event in the tournament," wrote Prajakta.
In their reply, BAI's legal counsel has said that the contents of Prajakta's email have been disputed by their client "as they do not bring out the true and correct facts. The players selected for the tournament have performed better than you in the recent past and are better suited for the national team."
Prajakta believes that she has been overlooked because national coach Gopichand promotes players from his academy in Hyderabad. Prajakta won the national women's doubles title in 2011 and 2012, and mixed doubles in 2012.
She is also the first ever Indian female to win a medal at the Asian level — bronze in the U-15 Asian mixed doubles in 2007. She stressed that her selection blues have driven her to feel unwanted and lose all her desire to represent India again.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that Prajakta has offers to play for a club abroad. The club has also provided her free training in the past.
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