In a blow to India’s chances in the Thomas and Uber Cup qualifiers this month, the national camp for the preparation of the prestigious tournaments scheduled in Goa from tomorrow has been called off due to unavailability of shuttlecocks.

Badminton Association of India laid the blame squarely on the Sports Authority of India and the Ministry, saying the association has been running pillar to post for the last five months to get the shuttlecocks in time but SAI has failed to provide them.

The top shuttlers who had reached the venue were asked to pack off and head home.

BAI President V K Verma said this was the first time a national camp had to be called off due to the lackadaisical approach of DGSAI and Sports Ministry. “It is unprecedented and upsetting for our players. This has happened due to the complete apathy on the part of DGSAI and the Sports secretary. I have met them so many times and informed them about the shortage. We have been managing somehow by begging and borrowing shuttlecocks,” he said.

Around 32 shuttlers, including senior and juniors, were to be part of the camp which was meant for the Thomas and Uber Cup qualifiers, All England Championship and other European Circuit events in March.

Juniors preparing for the 2010 Commonwealth Games were also to attend the camp.

“There is no time to have another camp because the Thomas and Uber Cup qualifiers are starting on February 19 in Vietnam.

“This was a very important camp because only five tournaments carrying Olympic qualification points are left and now there is no time left. We have four to five players in race for qualifying in Beijing but all our efforts will fall flat,” Verma said.

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