A historic bronze medal win by India’s mixed badminton team at the FISU World University Games 2025 in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, has been overshadowed by controversy, as six of the 12 selected players were barred from competing due to an alleged administrative lapse by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). The error, which occurred during the managers’ meeting on July 16, 2025, saw only six players’ names submitted correctly, leaving half the squad sidelined.

Alisha Khan, one of the excluded players, took to Instagram, calling the oversight “career sabotage” and demanding accountability from AIU and team officials. “We didn’t lose a match – we lost our right to even participate,” she wrote. The affected players—Rohan Kumar, Darshan Pujari, Aditi Bhatt, Abhinash Mohanty, Viraj Kuvale, and Alisha Khan—were part of the 12-member squad but unable to compete in the mixed team event, which saw Saneeth Dayanand, Sathish Kumar Karunakaran, Devika Sihag, Tasnim Mir, Varshini Viswanath Sri, and Vaishnavi Khadkekar secure a 3-2 victory over Malaysia in the quarterfinals, earning India’s first-ever badminton bronze at the Games.

Sources allege “systematic irregularities” in the selection process, starting at the trials held in April 2025 at Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, where over 210 athletes competed. A source claimed officials, including BV Rao and Ajit Mohan, failed to verify the player list properly during the managers’ meeting, neglecting to specify roles for singles, doubles, and mixed events. “They took it lightly,” the source said, noting that some selected players hadn’t even attended trials, hinting at favoritism.

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AIU Secretary Dr. Pankaj Mittal confirmed an investigation is underway but declined further comment. Players also reported issues with team jerseys, which carried full names instead of surnames and lacked proper country branding, resulting in a €1,000 fine per match until corrected for the semifinals. Additionally, the absence of a dedicated coach forced players to guide each other courtside.

The barred players, misled about potential participation in individual events starting July 22, expressed frustration over lost career opportunities, as medals could secure state government jobs. One player, anonymously, urged AIU to issue certificates recognizing all 12 squad members to safeguard their prospects. “The officials don’t even admit their mistakes or show remorse,” they added.

The incident has sparked outrage on social media, with calls for justice and reform in AIU’s processes, casting a shadow over India’s otherwise proud achievement.

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