Sawant issue: HC tells Gopichand to stay away

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Monday directed chief national badminton coach Pullela Gopichand to stay out of the selection of doubles player Prajakta Sawant till December 31, 2013.
Gopichand himself agreed to the suggestion by a division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Anoop Mohta. Denying allegations, he told the court there is a nine member selection committee. "Can't you opt out as far as her selection is concerned?" asked Justice Shah.
Gopichand's counsel Shiraz Rustomjee said he did stay out as far as her selection was concerned for Germany and England tournaments. He then agreed saying, "It's a good thing. Blame can't be laid at my (Gopichand) door." He urged the court to set a timeframe after which the judges set the deadline for the year end.
Sawant (20) moved court in November 2012 saying she was kept of the national coaching camp at Hyderabad for the China, Hong Kong and Macau series because she requested a change of her doubles and mixed doubles partners and blamed Gopichand. Her name was forwarded for the German Open and the All England championships. She could not go to Germany because her partner Jwala Gutta opted out and she did not get her British visa in time.
Her advocate placed a list of demands which included that she be allowed to play all tournaments including Asian Games and Commonwealth Games in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016.