Dipika Pallikal's exclusion from the Indian team for Asian Squash Championships may have kicked up a storm, but national coach Cyrus Poncha said the British Junior Open champion has only herself to blame for the omission by refusing to attend a mandatory trial camp.
Pallikal, number two in India, has been left out of the team for the prestigious tournament, starting February 12 in Kuwait, and Poncha defended the Squash and Rackets Federation of India's (SRFI) decision to omit her, saying that every player has to follow the norms set for selection.
"We had a mandatory camp-cum-selection-trial for girls and she was in Chennai when it was being conducted. She just sent an e-mail saying that she won't come for it and did not ask for any exemption," Poncha said.
"She said she had a back injury and has been advised rest but still she could have come to us seeking an exemption; we would have been more than happy to help her," he added.
Pallikal's mother Susan has stated that none of the top players who were selected for the championship attended the camp.
Poncha rejected her claims and said India number one Joshna Chinappa was there initially before she sought an exemption which was granted.
"First of all, the camp was only for girls and not for both boys and girls as has been reported in the media. Secondly, Joshna participated in the camp and was later given exemption. In fact, she has come back and is training at the academy right now," he revealed.
Poncha said he was dismayed by Susan's claims that her daughter had been discriminated against because of being a Christian.
"That was a shocking statement. I mean we are the people who taught Dipika how to hold a racket and I don't think we deserve this in return. It was Dipika who broke off ties with the SRFI; we would still be happy to help her in any way we can," he said.
Poncha, however, made it clear that the SRFI would not give Dipika's name for the Asian Championship as the entries are closed now.
"All this would have been sorted out had Dipika got in touch with us. But it's too late now and we cannot do anything," he said.
Dipika is currently training in Egypt.
