Hockey India: Players’ fate to be decided today

By DNA Correspondent | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

As Hockey India (HI) meets on Saturday to decide the action to be taken against two of India’s best players, Sandeep Singh and Sardara Singh, the question really is, how strict are they willing to be?

Sandeep and Sardara left the national camp on Tuesday morning after a spat with the coaches. What goes against them is that this is the third time the duo has been pulled up for disciplinary breach in as many months.

First, they went to play in the Belgian league without seeking HI’s approval, thus skipping the Azlan Shah Cup. Then, they left the national camp in Bangalore mid-way to attend an event organised by the Indian Hockey Federation, again keeping HI officials in the dark. The latest incident, though, has put them in real spot of bother.

“We will hear them out first. If they have a genuine reason to leave the camp and not play the tournament, then it is Ok. But some action will be taken depending on the findings of the committee,” HI secretary general Narendra Batra said.

The panel includes disciplinary committee chairman Pargat Singh, government observers Dilip Tirkey and Harbinder Singh, the coaching staff and athletes’ representatives Rajneesh Mishra and Mukesh Kumar.

There is also a possibility that the athletes’ representatives may ask HI to replace SS Grewal as the coach in-charge, after reports of several players being unhappy with his role at the camp.