While the country was busy with health concerns over the coronavirus, a promising badminton player has become the victim of a high handed act by an official who has deprived him of a place in the National pool.
The victim is none other than 16-year old Jason Homer who is the number one Doubles player in the country.
He has been deprived of recognition as he had refused to endorse a brand that is sponsoring the National pool players.
His father Clarence, who was a past national player and a veteran, said that his son had already signed up with another brand from a younger age and the agreement cannot be cancelled overnight.
Jason Homer has now been advised not to attend training without signing up with the sponsorship brand.
“Jason was never given an opportunity to explain his situation and this is not fair. He was never called up for a meeting,” said Homer senior.
He said the matter was taken up by him in writing with officials of Sri Lanka Badminton (SLB) but there had been no positive response from them.
As a final resort he wrote to the Sports Ministry and met its secretary Anuradha Wijekoon who after reading the letter arranged for him to meet the Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa straight away.
Minister Rajapaksa too had expressed shock at the situation and promised that swift action will be taken.
Homer senior said that some of the officials at SLB are holding their posts for over 20 years without any results and that it was time they are changed to some new faces who can work towards taking Sri Lanka badminton onto the international stage.
Minister Rajapaksa has already shown a keen desire to promote badminton to a higher level with a pledge to back the setting up of more private training centres in sports. Homer said that he intends to start a training centre of his own with a highly qualified foreign coach to be hired even at a very high price.
“Any player who is interested in joining in the training will be welcome,” he said.