Absence of documents holds up Arjuna nominations for hockey

New Delhi: Indian Olympic Association appointed ad-hoc committee to run hockey in the country is finding itself in a helpless situation in the absence of details to recommend players for Arjuna Awards even as the government’s selection procedure is in its final stages.

Mohammad Aslam, the convener of the ad-hoc committee, said that he had just returned from Hyderabad after the Junior Asia Cup and had to start from the scratch as the previous disbanded regime under KPS Gill did not hand them over any documents. “I have just got back from Hyderabad today and will have to start from the scratch. The previous hockey body has not given us any papers or details to work on,” Aslam said when asked if any hock ey player had been recommended for the Arjuna Awards.

“Only Prabhjot Singh has approached us so far but none other than him has contacted us,” he added. Aslam said even if the players don’t request for recommendation the Federation-concerned can give names for the awards.

“It is both ways, players can approach us or even a Federation can recommend names of players. But here we have yet to start,” he said.

About the deadline for submitting names, Aslam said he was “informed by the Sports Ministry that the process is nearly in its final stages.”

“So I will try to work out things as soon as possible, maybe by tomorrow,” he said. PTI