Former World No.1 para-badminton player Manasi Joshi has addressed the backlash following her controversial statement about funding para-sports. In a recent tweet, Manasi clarified her stance and urged fans to understand her perspective. Joshi, a former world champion in the para-badminton women’s singles SL3 category, faced heavy criticism on social media for her comments prioritizing funding for para-sports over cricket.
The controversy began on Friday, January 3, when Joshi posted a tweet on X (Formally Twitter), criticizing the Indian cricket team’s recent performance in the ongoing five-match Test series against Australia. She tweeted after Jasprit Bumrah and his team were bowled out for 185 runs on Day 1 of the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). She wrote on X “Cricket ka thoda funding para sports mein daalo plz. Hum better results dete hai.”
Cricket ka thoda funding para sports mein daalo plz. Hum better results dete hai#INDvsAUS
— Manasi Joshi (@joshimanasi11) January 3, 2025
Fans on social media quickly pointed out that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) operates independently and suggested that Joshi should focus on her game.
Clarifies Stance on Para-Sports Funding
In response to the backlash, Joshi issued her clarification on X, writing, “Guys, guys, calm down. I know how bodies run. My request is to brands, not the government. The government is already doing a good job in funding our athletes.” She emphasized that she directed her request at brands to support para-sports, not the government.
Guys, guys, calm down. I know how bodies run. My request is to brands not government. Government is already doing good job in funding our athletes
— Manasi Joshi (@joshimanasi11) January 4, 2025
The Men in Blue have lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by 1-3. They won the first Test in Perth by 295 runs but lost the next two matches out of three. The fifth Test is a must-win for Team India to keep their World Test Championship Final (WTC) hopes alive.
Joshi’s comments have sparked a broader conversation about the funding and support for para-sports in India. While cricket remains the dominant sport in the country, there is a growing recognition of the need to support and promote para-sports and other less mainstream sports.
