The Indian Olympic Association (IOA)-appointed ad-hoc committee to run hockey in the country finds 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 scratch. “I have just got back from Hyderabad and will have to start from scratch. The previous hockey body has not given us any papers or details to work on,” Aslam said when asked if any hockey player had been recommended for the Arjuna. “Only Prabhjot Singh has approached us,” he added. Aslam said even if the players don’t request for recommendation, the concerned federation can give names. “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.