<p>A 17-year-old Indian tennis player said Wednesday he felt "hurt" at being denied entry to the Australian Open for being unvaccinated against Covid-19, while world number one Novak Djokovic got a medical exemption.</p>.<p>All participants at the Melbourne tournament, which starts on January 17, must be jabbed or have a medical exemption, which is granted only after assessment by two panels of independent experts.</p>.<p>Among those exempted was Djokovic, who has repeatedly refused to confirm if he has been inoculated.</p>.<p>But Aman Dahiya was barred from the qualifying event of the junior Australian Open because he had not been jabbed.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/novak-djokovic-faces-backlash-over-vaccine-exemption-for-australian-open-1068159.html" target="_blank">Novak Djokovic faces backlash over 'vaccine exemption' for Australian Open</a></strong></p>.<p>India made Covid vaccinations available for people aged between 15 and 18 from January 3 and Dahiya, placed 78 in the ITF junior rankings, is still waiting for his first shot.</p>.<p>In an email seen by <em>AFP</em>, the tournament's medical exemption panel rejected Dahiya's request and wrote: "Under current Australian guidelines, the applicant would be considered eligible for vaccination and therefore does not qualify for exemption."</p>.<p>"I felt hurt after Djokovic was allowed to play and while I was denied entry for the same thing," Dahiya said. "The law should be the same for all. This is double standards."</p>.<p>Dahiya's coach Jignesh Rawal said the player was missing the opportunity of a lifetime to play on the biggest stage due to a harsh call.</p>.<p>"We thought they are very strict but we saw they allow Djokovic who did not have one vaccine," Rawal told<em> AFP</em>.</p>.<p>"In a simple email they said 'you can't come' but Mr Djokovic you can because you are famous. I respect Djokovic but the law should remain the same for everyone."</p>.<p>Rawal said Dahiya comes from a humble background in the northern state of Haryana, his father earning about 10,000 rupees ($134) a month.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, there has been a severe backlash in Australia over Djokovic's entry to defend his title in Melbourne.</p>.<p>Tournament chief Craig Tiley said that the defending champion had been given "no special favour" but urged the Serbian to reveal why he got the exemption, to soothe public anger.</p>
<p>A 17-year-old Indian tennis player said Wednesday he felt "hurt" at being denied entry to the Australian Open for being unvaccinated against Covid-19, while world number one Novak Djokovic got a medical exemption.</p>.<p>All participants at the Melbourne tournament, which starts on January 17, must be jabbed or have a medical exemption, which is granted only after assessment by two panels of independent experts.</p>.<p>Among those exempted was Djokovic, who has repeatedly refused to confirm if he has been inoculated.</p>.<p>But Aman Dahiya was barred from the qualifying event of the junior Australian Open because he had not been jabbed.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/novak-djokovic-faces-backlash-over-vaccine-exemption-for-australian-open-1068159.html" target="_blank">Novak Djokovic faces backlash over 'vaccine exemption' for Australian Open</a></strong></p>.<p>India made Covid vaccinations available for people aged between 15 and 18 from January 3 and Dahiya, placed 78 in the ITF junior rankings, is still waiting for his first shot.</p>.<p>In an email seen by <em>AFP</em>, the tournament's medical exemption panel rejected Dahiya's request and wrote: "Under current Australian guidelines, the applicant would be considered eligible for vaccination and therefore does not qualify for exemption."</p>.<p>"I felt hurt after Djokovic was allowed to play and while I was denied entry for the same thing," Dahiya said. "The law should be the same for all. This is double standards."</p>.<p>Dahiya's coach Jignesh Rawal said the player was missing the opportunity of a lifetime to play on the biggest stage due to a harsh call.</p>.<p>"We thought they are very strict but we saw they allow Djokovic who did not have one vaccine," Rawal told<em> AFP</em>.</p>.<p>"In a simple email they said 'you can't come' but Mr Djokovic you can because you are famous. I respect Djokovic but the law should remain the same for everyone."</p>.<p>Rawal said Dahiya comes from a humble background in the northern state of Haryana, his father earning about 10,000 rupees ($134) a month.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, there has been a severe backlash in Australia over Djokovic's entry to defend his title in Melbourne.</p>.<p>Tournament chief Craig Tiley said that the defending champion had been given "no special favour" but urged the Serbian to reveal why he got the exemption, to soothe public anger.</p>