Its another day, another dark chapter in the India-Pakistan hockey contacts.
Indian junior team that was in Amritsar, a city just 20 km off Pakistan border, could not cross the border, as last minute hiccups put paid to their ambition of playing the 5-match series in Pakistan.
In a sudden move, and also belatedly, Government of India refused permission for the Indian team to play the series. Agency reports indicate it was due to security fears.
Dejected Indian coach AK Bansal and his team is set to return Delhi today evening by train. The team will not be disbanded, instead will play the Senior Nehru Cup which will start on 14th. Due to stadium renovation, the Nehru Cup is held at Gurgaon, a suburb of Delhi. This is an unexpected boost for the Senior Nehru Cup, undoubtedly one of the best organized and much awaited domestic competitions.
s2h strongly condemns the Govt of India’s move that lacks logic. First, why such a decision at the last minutes. Second, which part of the world today is safe.
It really feels sorry for the Pakistan hockey authorities who seem serious about reviving their hockey fortunes, ever since Pakistan finished below expectations at Beijing Olympics.
The last minute cancellations are stresses that sportfields can dispense away with. The ad-hoc committee did everything possible to see the tour goes well, prepared team well, and the team was sent to Amritsar on time so that crossing border was easy — on foot. The team was to board flight from Lahore to Karachi yesterday where the first match was to be played today.
Whatever the reasons, whoever is to be blamed, young colts lost a life time opportunity, and at least six new faces in the Indian team have to wait for some other day to play for the country.
Very unfortunate
5 Comments
i met the indian team at sanzog international and at guru nanak dev university astroturf.was in high spirits . they played a friendly match against all india university team won match with huge margin . drag flicker diwakar ram and coaches bansal and lobo really impressed us .what will become of indo -pak hockey .very sad .
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA SHOULD THINK DEEPLY BEFORE TAKING SUCH A ABSURD DECISION .PROF.PARAMJIT SINGH RANDHAWA (HOCKEY WRITER ).AMRITSAR 098155-35410
There is no gain in such things. everything is loss. Loss to Pakistan, loss to India, loss to all of us who wanted hockey to come up.
A couple of months of hard work done by the hockey junior boys, money and effort goes for waste. There is no other substitute for terrorism and politics than sports activities. If we consider, Pakistan as not safe… then are we in India are safe? I think in the last 6 months throughout India there has been a series of bomb blasts…But in that case how come the Australian Cricket team is given permission to tour India? Don’t we give high priority and security to the cricket team? In that case, won’t Pakistan goverment give high priority and security to Indian hockey players? I think it would have been a top priority for Pakistan government and top officials of Pakistan hockey federation to look after the Indians…. I think had Laloo Prasad was coach of Indian hockey team, the government would have given high priority and clearance.. Sad state of affairs for sports lovers..
am moving from school to school for the sake of hockey .kindly visit .