World Badminton Championship: India slams England pullout

HYDERABAD: The Home Ministry on Sunday rued England's last-minute pullout from the World Badminton Championship in Hyderabad, terming it "over-reaction".

"This is unfortunate and an over-reaction," Union Home Secretary GK Pillai said.

"The security arrangements in Hyderabad are good and the Government of India is committed to ensure the complete security of all competitors and the championship," he added.

Barely 24 hours before the elite tournament gets underway in Hyderabad, England withdrew its eight-member contingent citing a "specific Lashkar-e-Toiba" threat.

England's eleventh hour withdrawal came a day after Home Minister P Chidambaram had assured all that there was no specific threat to the event and a foolproof security system had been put in place for the purpose.

Indian shuttlers on Sunday flayed England for its last-minute pullout from the World Badminton Championships with Saina Nehwal calling it an "immature" decision.

"It's an immature decision but I don't think it makes much of a difference to the tournament because there are no English top players in the singles event," Saina said.

Saina said her coach Pullela Gopichand tried to convince them about the foolproof security here but to no avail.

"I think they should have been more patient. Even Gopi Sir spoke to them yesterday. In India, badminton is not as big as cricket so I don't think there was any need to be worry," said Saina, seeded sixth in the women's singles event.

"The tournament will go on without an issue and I don't foresee any trouble for anyone. I think they panicked since Independence Day celebrations are round the corner," she added.

India's top men's singles player Chetan Anand said the pullout will hurt India's image as a safe sporting destination.