Chhattisgarh Basketball: Players Demand Retrial after serious allegations rock U18 state team selections
The players have urged BFI to conduct a full review of the trials, examine footage if available, and take strict action against anyone found guilty of corruption, favouritism, or misuse of power.
Serious allegations of bias, favoritism, and irregularities have surfaced following the selection trials for the Chhattisgarh U18 boys’ and girls’ basketball teams ahead of the upcoming 76th Junior National Basketball Championship.
Concerns surrounding the trials gained wider attention after a video published by local video news platform Rashtrabodh featured affected players and parents questioning the transparency and fairness of the selection process.
Several participants alleged that deserving players were denied proper opportunities during the trials and that selections appeared to be influenced by recommendations and internal favoritism.
The controversy escalated further after players collectively sent a formal complaint email to the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), demanding an independent investigation and retrial.
A copy of this email is with Ekalavyas.
‘Outside’ players preferred?
According to the complaint, players alleged that “outside players” were brought into the trials through the Sarvagya Rao Basketball Academy and claimed that selections were heavily influenced by recommendations. The email specifically mentioned academy coach Rajeshwar Rao Kalwa and members of the BFI Ad Hoc committee, alleging that the final squad appeared “pre-decided” even before the trials concluded.
The complaint also raised concerns regarding the role of a Dronacharya awardee allegedly associated with the process, claiming the trials were conducted in an “unprofessional manner” and that deserving athletes were ignored despite strong performances.
Unacceptably poor trial venue
Apart from the selection-related allegations, players also criticized the condition of the venue used for the trials. According to the complaint email, the basketball court reportedly contained stones, sand, and gravel during the sessions, while vehicles and scooties were allegedly moving through the playing area — conditions players described as unacceptable for a state-level national selection process. Visuals shown in the Rashtrabodh video news report also appeared to substantiate some of these concerns regarding the condition of the court.
The players have urged BFI to conduct a full review of the trials, examine footage if available, and take strict action against anyone found guilty of corruption, favoritism, or misuse of power. The complaint also warned that legal action could follow if the matter is not addressed.
At the time of writing, neither the Basketball Federation of India nor the concerned officials had publicly responded to the allegations.
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