Mohammad Azharuddin denies link with his good friend Jwala

This seems to be a season of sleaze in Indian sports. Even as covers in the hockey scandal are being peeled off virtually every day, a dirty game seems to have started in badminton.

On Friday, a media report, based on sources in the Andhra Pradesh Badminton Association, suggested that former India cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin is about to part ways with wife Sangeeta Bijlani. The report also linked Azhar to world No. 7 mixed doubles badminton player Jwala Gutta.

Azhar promptly rubbished the report at a press conference here, saying that Jwala was just a friend. “ These reports are completely rubbish, baseless and are in bad taste. I am very hurt by all these. I know Jwala, she is a good friend of mine, and to write such reports which are completely false and fabricated is disgusting,” Azhar told PTI . “ Jwala is a very good player and she is a great prospect for the country. She has been doing well and will win many medals for the country in future. So, I just want to request everybody to just leave her alone and not get her into this cheap controversy,” he said.

Jwala, who is married to national champion Chetan Anand, also denied a link with Azhar. “ Look, I want to emphatically say here one thing. I have known him for quite some time now. We have been friends for about three years now. He is a keen badminton enthusiast,” she said.

“ As regards my purported affair with Azhar, I want to categorically say that these are baseless rumours spread by certain people. I have nothing more to say on this matter.” Sources say that the report was planted by a section of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) that is out to take revenge against Azhar for trying to challenge the BAI president, the well-entrenched VK Verma.

Azhar decided to contest for the BAI top post, reportedly on instructions of the sports ministry, which wanted to settle scores with Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi by making the former India batsman challenge Verma, a close associate of Kalmadi.

But, at the last moment, Azhar backed out and did not even file his nomination papers. Verma was re-elected unopposed.

Since then, say sources, some emboldened BAI officials are out to teach Azhar a lesson, and these stories are part of that sinister campaign.

Azhar himself said that these reports were motivated. “ These are planted stories and motivated by people in the BAI who are against me. They should look into their homes first before casting aspersions on others and making such allegations,” he said.

Reports suggest that when Azhar reportedly gifted a super-deluxe car to badminton player and ‘ friend’ Jwala recently, Sangeeta was aware of her husband’s fascination for the player and had even moved out of their Hyderabad home.

Interestingly, Sangeeta has been spotted alone at several events in Mumbai this year although the couple has been known to attend events together over the years.

When actor Salman Khan, Sangeeta’s one-time boyfriend, hosted the premiere of his film Veer , she had flown down alone from Delhi. She was in the Capital around that time reportedly doing up the home Azhar had got in his capacity as a member of parliament.

Also, Sangeeta and Azhar recently attended a cricket match played by the cast of Sajid Khan’s film Housefull . If sources are to be believed, the couple – who are generally game for glam photo-ops – seemed reluctant at first to pose together at a cricket ground in the Goregaon suburb of Mumbai.

“ For some time now, Sangeeta has been attending all the preview shows of Salman’s films such as Veer, Wanted and London Dreams . When she became a regular at her ex-boyfriend’s film previews, everyone started talking.

Her presence at Salman’s screenings is understandable because she is still very close to the Khan family,” says a source.

In Bollywood, Sangeeta is known for her roles in JP Dutta’s Hathyar and Rajiv Rai’s superhit Tridev . Her career in showbiz started after she won the Miss India title in 1980 but she has been more famous as a model than as a film star.

Her most famous ads are for Vicco and Nirma.

Sangeeta has also been a part of films such as Yugandhar, Yodha and Vishnu Deva . She continued acting in films till the mid nineties before tying the knot with Azharuddin, who was already married to Naureen at that time.

At that time, Sangeeta was anchoring Doordarshan’s popular Sunday morning show, Rangoli , and also acted in the Zee TV serial Chandni . She has been a regular in Mumbai party circles but has not acted in any film since 1996.