Players who left hockey national camp barred from training

By Mihir Vasavda | Place: Mumbai

The five Indian players, who have been pulled up for leaving the national camp without taking Hockey India’s permission, will not be allowed to train with the team at least till Monday.

The Sports Authority of India (SAI) will decide on the action to be taken against the players only after Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation’s (IHF) crucial meeting with the sports ministry in New Delhi on Monday. Skipper Arjun Halappa, drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza and midfielders Prabhjot Singh and Sardara Singh met Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials on Saturday.

“The players reached the SAI campus on Friday night. They met (camp in-charge) SS Grewal, who allowed them to stay at the campus. On Saturday morning, they had a meeting with the SAI officials and it is decided that though they can continue to stay at the campus, they cannot participate in the training sessions till Monday at least,” a source said.

The sports ministry has given an ultimatum to HI and IHF to resolve the merger issue by Monday. A meeting of the officials from both sides is scheduled for that day in New Delhi.

The five players knowingly left the national camp to attend an IHF event in Mumbai on Thursday. That has irked HI and can also act as a roadblock in the merger issue. HI secretary general Narendra Batrasaid he will comment on the issue only on Monday, once the meeting with the ministry is over.