BAI asked to 'pay' Prajakta Sawant

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Badminton Association of India to pay Prajakta Sawant all the expenses for participating in the forthcoming tournaments in Bahrain, only if it is paying for other Indian players.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice M S Sanklecha heard a petition by Sawant directing BAI to pay the expenses to be paid for two tournaments – the Bahrain International Tournament from October 30-November 5 and Bahrain Challenge from November 6-9.Her advocate Piyush Shah argued that when BAI is paying for players whose ranking is lower than Sawant, it can also pay for her.
BAI's advocate Nimay Dave said no player from Indian team was participating in the first tournament and no player was being paid. "All are going on their own expense," he added.
The judges, in their order, said the BAI, which received funds from the Central government, must pay Sawant's expenses for the Bahrain Challenge and clarified that it will do so only if it paying for any other Indian player. They rejected BAI's plea for stay of their order "in the facts and circumstances of the case." "Spend less for officials and more for players. It will do a world of good for players," said Justice Shah, in a parting note.