India international para-badminton player Prema Vishwas has made an emotional appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that a delay in submitting her official entry for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games led to its rejection.
The WH1 (wheelchair) category shuttler took to social media to question the selection and entry process, claiming that her entry was not submitted initially and was sent only after a delay that meant it was no longer accepted. Prema pointed to her Asian rankings, saying players ranked lower than her had been included in the squad.
“My Singles Asian Ranking is 8 and I am in the Top 6 in Women’s Doubles. Yet my entry for the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games was not sent initially,” Prema wrote in a Facebook post. “When it was finally sent, it was delayed for so long that it is no longer being accepted. What is my fault in this?”
The para-shuttler questioned why players ranked as low as 11 in the singles category had their entries processed while hers was allegedly left out despite her higher ranking.
“What is my fault in this? When entries were submitted for players ranked up to 11 in Singles, why was mine left out despite my Singles Rank 8 and Women’s Doubles Top 6 status? Why should I suffer the loss of my years of hard work and ranking?” she wrote.
Prema, who hails from Udham Singh Nagar in Uttarakhand, also highlighted the financial challenges she has faced during her career. She said she comes from an underprivileged family, lost her father and does not have regular employment or permanent sponsorship.
“I come from a very poor family. I lost my father, I have no job, and I do not have any permanent sponsor. I have reached this level by seeking help from people, training under extremely difficult circumstances, and representing my country,” she said.
Calling the Aichi-Nagoya Games particularly significant, Prema said she does not have the financial backing to continue competing for several more years and rebuild her ranking if she misses the event.
“This is not just any ordinary tournament for me. This is the first and perhaps the last Asian Para Games of my career. I do not have the financial backing to continue playing like this for years and rebuild this ranking all over again,” she added.
Prema appealed to Prime Minister Modi for intervention and sought action to address what she described as an administrative lapse.
“Prime Minister Sir, I am not asking for any favours; I am simply asking for justice. All I ask for is one opportunity to play for my nation,” she concluded.
The shuttler also has international results to her credit, having won two bronze medals at the Egypt Para-Badminton International 2025, which formed part of the selection rankings for the Para Asian Games.