India will not play Johor Cup, and why

A regular in the fixture so far, the reigning silver medallists India will miss out this year edition of Sultan of Johor Cup.

India won the Cup in 2014 and lost to Great Britain last year in the final

Now it is officially confirmed that Indian juniors will not be seen in action in the Sultan of Johor Cup to be held in November this year at Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

While confirming the withdrawal, Hockey India President Narender Dhruv Batra said that it was due to change in the dates of the tournament.

“We entered Sultan of Johor Cup which was originally scheduled to be held in October this year. Now that it is postponed close to Junior World Cup. It means that there will be hardly a fortnight between Junior World Cup and the Johor Cup. We don’t wish to play a major tournament close to Junior World Cup”.

In fact the official site of the Hockey India still shows October for ‘Proposed International Competition (Jr. Men)”.

However, it is learnt that Hockey India did not take comments of Terry Walsh, who is Technical Director for Malaysian hockey at present, kindly.

Terry Walsh, former Indian chief coach, has said in an interview to New Indian Express that decisions in Hockey India are taken whim and fancies of a few.

Hockey India has officially complained to FIH on this issue.

However, Batra has clarified that both issues are not related. “I don’t know why two issues are mixed up. Yes, we lodged a complaint with FIH. My officials are not expected to comment on host country when on tour. This is against protocol. I expect the same from Malaysian official too.:

“We don’t play in Johor just because the dates were changed”, he reiterated.

Malaysian officials take a position that Terry Walsh is official of Malaysian Sports Council, and they are nothing to do with what he says to media.

They also indicate their willingness to take even second string junior team for the Johor Cup.