Outgoing coach Vimal Kumar on Monday lashed out at the Badminton Association of India for giving preference to rank youngsters at the expense of experienced pros for important upcoming tournaments in Asia.
Vimal, who has just finished his coaching stint with the team after scripting India's successful run in Thomas Cup, said the BAI's move to leave out players like Aparna Popat and Trupti Murgunde from the women's team was one taken in haste.
"The junior players who have been selected are only 16 or 17 years old and I don't think they are prepared to play in five star tournaments like the Philippines and Singapore Open yet," he said.
"It is good that youngsters are being promoted. It is a good move but they should be first given exposure in B-grade tournaments so that they can build themselves up and prepare for bigger events," the former India player said about the BAI's recent policy of promoting youngsters.
The Indian men's and women's team have a busy few weeks ahead as they are slated to play in The Philippines Open (May 24-28), Indonesian Open (May 31-June 4), Singapore Open (June
5-11) and Malaysian Open (June 13-18).
The men's team is spearheaded by world no. 24 and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Chetan Anand, but the women's team is without the seasoned Aparna Popat and Trupti Murgunde.
Vimal said the players picked in place of the seniors are raw and lack international exposure.
"These players are still playing at the junior level. They have not had a good stint at the senior national level, leave alone international exposure," he said.
The men's team also comprises of Anup Sridhar and Arvind Bhatt, who played a crucial role in India reaching the last eight of Thomas Cup in Japan last month.
However, the BAI was defensive about its squad selection.
"We want to give youngsters a chance and that is the reason why we have chosen this squad," BAI seceratary L C Gupta said.
In the absence of stalwarts, promising starlet Saina Nehwal will lead India's challenge in the women's section, which has junior players Aditi Mutatkar, Sayali Ghosh and Ruth Misa.
The BAI's decision must have come as a big setback for 24-year-old Murgunde, who outclassed some big names of world badminton in the Asian Badminton Championship in Johar Boru in
Malaysia in April and reached the quarter-final stage.
"Murgunde is not old. She is just 24 years old and she has performed well in the Asian Badminton Championship. Young players should not get a chance at the cost of established players," Vimal said.
Popat, on the other hand, came back from an injury layoff to lead India to a upset win against Thailand in the Uber Cup qualifiers in February before a huge win against Li Li of Singapore in the Commonwealth Games.
For the men's doubles, Sanave Thomas, who pulled out of Thomas Cup, was included in the squad while Nikhil Kantekar and Thomas Kurien were replaced by P Kashyap and Rohan Castelino.
