NEW DELHI: Hockey Punjab on Sunday lashed out at Indian Olympic Association, accusing the IOA and its president Suresh Kalmadi of hatching a conspiracy against the state and debarring them from Hockey India’s January 29 elections.
Wondering why the state, biggest contributor to the national game, was denied affiliation despite going through all procedures, Hockey Punjab president Sukhbir Singh Badal said IOA’s refusal was nothing less than a scam.
“It’s shocking that they have denied us affiliation. There is something fishy in IOA, which has debarred not only Punjab but also major hockey playing states like Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Mumbai and Kerala,” Badal said.
“Now they have an election on January 29 without recognising the major hockey states. It smacks of a major conspiracy not to allow us participate in the election. It’s a major scam,” said Badal.
Incidentally, Badal is reportedly interested in the top Hockey India post, even though the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister remained coy when asked if he would contest in the January 29 election if Punjab got affiliation.
He, however, said that politics should not be allowed to mar the future of the national game.
“Politicking has no place in sports and nobody should indulge in it, especially when we are hosting the hockey World Cup and then the Commonwealth Games this year,” Badal said.
Badal also dismissed suggestions that Hockey Punjab’s election was disputed and he had Punjab Olympic Association president SS Dhindsa to vouch for him.
“All this talk about disputes and factionalism is rubbish. We had four associations in the state who merged to form Hockey Punjab, as per IOA guidelines, and elected me unanimously as its president. The presidents and vice-presidents of the earlier associations are office-bearers in Hockey Punjab,” he said.
Dhindsa backed his view and said, “We did have multiple associations in the state but they have merged and elected Badal as their chief. We oversaw the election and Badal was chosen unanimously. IOA must be having some mischievous designs,” said Dhindsa.
Former India captain and Punjab Sports Director Pargat Singh said he took up the issue with the IOA top brass but they kept the buck passing.
“What is exasperating is that we are not being told why we are not getting the affiliation despite going through the procedure. We have met the IOA top brass, wrote them at least four times and even took up the issue with FIH vice-president Antonio van Ondarza when he came to Delhi but to no avail,” he said.