Para Badminton Coach Defends Medal Forecast Amid Selection Controversy

Para badminton coach Gaurav Khanna has dismissed claims that his social media medal prediction harmed athlete morale. He argues that the backlash is an attempt to discredit him following his formal complaints about team selection irregularities.

The controversy stems from a post made shortly before the Asian Para Games finals, which estimated India's total medal haul. While India matched the predicted total of 16 medals, several athletes and officials criticized the coach for publicly naming specific players and creating unnecessary pressure.

Khanna has questioned the timing of the complaints, noting that the post was deleted within minutes of being published. He suggested that athletes claiming to be disturbed by the post would have been active on social media late at night instead of preparing for their matches.

The coach further alleged that administrative decisions regarding the squad led to the exclusion of top-ranked players. He stated that these selection issues ultimately prevented India from securing additional medals at the event.