header('Content-type: application/json');
    echo json_encode($json);
} else {
    if (filter_input(INPUT_GET, "fetchEntrants") != NULL) {
        $requestData = $_REQUEST;
        $columns = array(0 => 'id', 1 => 'id', 2 => 'id', 3 => 'contest', 4 => 'email', 5 => 'friends', 6 => 'names', 7 => 'time_entered', 8 => 'point');
        // getting total number records without any search
        $query = $dbObj->query("SELECT * FROM " . $entrantObj::$tableName);
        $totalData = mysqli_num_rows($query);
        $totalFiltered = $totalData;
        // when there is no search parameter then total number rows = total number filtered rows.
        $sql = "SELECT * FROM " . $entrantObj::$tableName . " WHERE 1=1 ";
        if (!empty($requestData['search']['value'])) {
            // if there is a search parameter, $requestData['search']['value'] contains search parameter
            $sql .= " AND ( email LIKE '%" . $requestData['search']['value'] . "%' ";
            $sql .= " OR contest = '" . Contest::getSingle($dbObj, 'id', $requestData['search']['value']) . "' ) ";
        }
        $query = $dbObj->query($sql);
        $totalFiltered = mysqli_num_rows($query);
        // when there is a search parameter then we have to modify total number filtered rows as per search result.
        $sql .= " ORDER BY " . $columns[$requestData['order'][0]['column']] . "   " . $requestData['order'][0]['dir'] . "  LIMIT " . $requestData['start'] . " ," . $requestData['length'] . "   ";
        echo $entrantObj->fetchForJQDT($requestData['draw'], $totalData, $totalFiltered, $sql);
    }
    if (filter_input(INPUT_GET, "sendEmail") != NULL) {
        $postVars = array('email');
        // Form fields names
        //Validate the POST variables and add up to error message if empty
        foreach ($postVars as $postVar) {
            switch ($postVar) {
                default:
                    $entrantObj->{$postVar} = filter_input(INPUT_GET, $postVar, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL) ? mysqli_real_escape_string($dbObj->connection, filter_input(INPUT_GET, $postVar, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL)) : '';