ROURKELA: Uncertainity looms large over the holding of prestigious 21st Sub-Junior Girls’ National Hockey Championship here with the organiser Orissa Women’s Hockey Association (OWHA) running from pillar to post to find support.
If the coveted tournament, scheduled for August 24-31, takes place it would be for the first time that Orissa would host such a major tourney.
But, the journey of OWHA, ever since it got the organising rights, has never been free from hiccups. Sources said the first blow was dealt by the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) when it reportedly turned down the request for sponsorship and players’ accommodations.
The attitude of the government machineries has been no encouraging either.
Consider it. Backed with a request letter, shot off in advance, the OWHA functionaries met the Director, Sports, on July 21 for support. The Sports Directorate entrusted the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (NR) with the task to organise a preparatory meeting.
However, due to transfer of RDC and Collector in between no headway could be made.
The new RDC Zameel Ahmed Khan was approached on August 4, but it took 10 days for his office to ask the Sundargarh Collector Shalini Pandit to convene the preparatory meeting.
Nearly 25 hockey playing teams, involving more than 500 players and sports officials, recognised by the Indian Federation of Women’s Hockey (IFWH) from across the country are slated to participate. The national championship carries immense importance for spotting fresh talents for the senior national squad.
An OWHA source on condition of anonymity said it would be a great damage if the tournament is cancelled as the IFWH would not be willing to entrust Orissa with any major responsibility in future.
Meanwhile, Collector Pandit on Saturday authorised ADM S K Das to hold the preparatory meeting.