Indian para badminton coach Gaurav Khanna has strongly rejected allegations that his social media activity negatively impacted athletes during the 2026 Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Indian para badminton coach Gaurav Khanna has refuted allegations that he negatively affected players’ morale during the recent Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, calling the claims a “misleading public narrative” aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
The controversy stems from a now-deleted social media post by the coach, in which he predicted that India would win fewer medals at the Asian Para Games than it did at the 2022 edition.
He had envisioned that the country would win 16 medals, including two gold, six silver and eight bronze. Interestingly, India went on to win 16 medals (three gold, five silver and eight bronze).
The players alleged that they felt severe pressure due to the post and called on SAI and the Sports Ministry to launch an enquiry into the coach.
Gaurav hits back on accusations
In a statement to PTI, coach Gaurav said the allegations against him were a deliberate attempt to damage his credibility and shift attention from the concerns he raised regarding the selection process.
“I am concerned that the public accusations, which began on 27 October, around one week after the briefly visible post, were intended to divert attention from the documented irregularities I had raised with higher authorities after the Asian Para Games concluded.
More from Badminton News“The timing raises a serious concern that, upon learning of my representations, those concerned resorted to a misleading public narrative to discredit me and shift attention away from the main issues,” the coach said.
Notably, the claims surfaced after coach Gaurav raised concerns about the alleged selection-related irregularities.
Pramod Bhagat slams coach Gaurav
Pramod Bhagat, a six-time world champion, had been predicted by Khanna to win silver, and he eventually finished second after losing to Nitesh Kumar in the SL3 final at Aichi-Nagoya.
Bhagat said Khanna acted in an “extremely unprofessional and ethically wrong” manner by publishing medal statements by name a day before the conclusion of the Games.
“Statements like these risk creating tension at a crucial stage when athletes need support, not additional distractions,” he added.
Khanna retorted to the charge by questioning Bhagat’s routine before the big match.
Whether para badminton coach Gaurav would undergo an investigation is yet to be seen.
With inputs from PTI.