Noida Basketball Teams Excluded from State Championships Amid Association Election Dispute
In a disheartening repeat of events, the Gautam Budh Nagar Under-19 girls' basketball team has been barred from participating in the state championship in Prayagraj, mirroring the fate of the boys' team just days earlier. Both exclusions stem from an ongoing election dispute between the Gautam Budh Nagar Basketball Association (GBNBA) and the Uttar Pradesh Basketball Association (UPBA), leaving young athletes in limbo and jeopardizing their future opportunities.
Supreme Court Intervention Sought as Tournament Deadline Looms
The Gautam Budh Nagar Basketball Association approached the Supreme Court seeking interim relief from conditions imposed by the Uttar Pradesh Basketball Association. Advocate-on-record Ishita Farsaiya, who filed the plea on behalf of GBNBA on April 9, confirmed that during Friday's hearing, the court acknowledged the alleged denial of participation opportunities and directed notices to all concerned parties, including UPBA, the Basketball Federation of India, and the Uttar Pradesh government. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on Monday.
However, by the time the court convenes, the girls' championship tournament will have concluded, rendering the hearing largely symbolic for this year's competition. Separately, a poignant intervention plea was filed by 16-year-old Chandni Singh, a former national-level player and member of the girls' team, asserting her right to participate. Her petition has been consolidated with GBNBA's case and will also be heard on Monday.
Procedural Dispute Over Election Validity
The controversy traces back to GBNBA elections held on March 24, which saw incumbent president Rahim Bawa re-elected and Sakshi Chand replacing Vikram Duggal as general secretary. The newly elected body informed UPBA on March 26 and submitted team entries for the boys' championship on March 29, followed by a reminder on April 2 after receiving no response.
UPBA later declared that eligibility forms must carry signatures from both Bawa and Duggal, citing procedural lapses in the elections. Since this condition was not met, the Gautam Budh Nagar teams were deemed ineligible. The boys' team was consequently barred from the championship held in Pratapgarh from April 5 to 8.
UPBA general secretary Dileep Singh elaborated, "GBNBA was informed that eligibility forms required signatures from both Duggal and Bawa. The team would be considered only if there was consensus between the two." He further alleged that GBNBA requested an observer and declared an election date without proper consultation, a procedure not recognized by UPBA.
Legal Battles and Player Consequences
Following the boys' exclusion, GBNBA first moved the Allahabad High Court on April 6, but the petition was not admitted. The association then escalated the matter to the Supreme Court on April 9, seeking urgent relief. Senior advocate Jayant Bhushan appeared before a bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe.
The dispute has severe implications for the young athletes, many of whom are in their final year of U-19 eligibility. This tournament is crucial for securing opportunities under the sports quota in higher education, particularly at institutions like Delhi University.
Yashwashni Yadav, a team member residing in NTPC township in Dadri, expressed her distress, "This was my last year in the U-19 category, and I now have to apply for college admissions. Without participation this year, my chances of securing admission through the sports quota will be severely affected."
Conflicting Accounts and Future Implications
GBNBA president Rahim Bawa defended the election process, stating it was conducted with due procedure. He claimed that Duggal was approached multiple times for signatures to safeguard players' interests but did not respond. "We sent the team without the signatures, hoping UPBA would relax the condition in the players' interest," Bawa explained.
Sakshi Chand, the newly elected general secretary, said she did not sign as UPBA specifically sought Duggal's signature. Meanwhile, Vikram Duggal told media that he could not sign since he was no longer general secretary, questioning why he should endorse documents for a position he no longer held. He further alleged that the elections were "held unfairly" and that he had raised the issue with the deputy registrar of societies and UPBA.
Despite the setback, GBNBA officials maintain that the elections were fair and vow to continue their legal fight. Sakshi Chand stated, "We welcome the SC decision to hear the case and are optimistic that the players' rights will be upheld." The association's persistence highlights the broader struggle between district autonomy and state oversight in sports administration, with young athletes caught in the crossfire of bureaucratic disputes.
