Bansal rubbishes match-fixing reports ‘Such allegations down boys’ morale’ We participated in the tour- nament with a sole aim of giving our best and the boys did it and we won the silver medal. This is the only fact we all are aware of the Sultan Azlan Shah Tournament A.K. BANSAL, INDIA’S CHIEF COACH, talks to Saurabh Duggal

Chandigarh AFTER THE recent reports of match fixing in the Wimbledon, hockey has come under cloud of this illegal practice. According to a news agency report from Kuala Lumpur, the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the world governing body in the sport, is waiting for complete facts before taking an action into the match-fixing allegations during a match between Malaysia and India in the recently held Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.

India defeated hosts Malaysia 21 in the last league match and later lost to Argentina in the final.

“We partici pated in the tournament with a sole aim of giving our best and the boys did it and we won the silver medal. This is the only fact we all are aware of the Sultan Azlan Shah Tournament,” said A.K. Bansal, India’s chief coach in the tournament. “As far as matching fixing reports are con- cerned, I myself only came to know about it through media. But as far as our side is concerned, the match was not fixed and we played the better game and defeated the Malaysian side,” he added.

Reacting on the reports published in the Malaysian tabloid ‘Malay Mail’, claming that several Malaysian play ers had fixed a match against India in the Azlan Shah Cup as they had placed online bets on Malaysia losing the last Round-Robin game, the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) had lodged a police complaint on Fri day and also started their own investi gation on the allegations regarding the May 17 match, in which India pre vailed 2-1 over Malaysia.

“In Malaysia, no player from the hosts team, any official or any out sider ever what I cameus. contacted Moreover, to know through media about the match-fixing report is that nowhere the Indian team was linked in the alleged scandal.

If something happened than it’s from their part only,” said Bansal. “Malaysia lost every match and were placed at the bottom. They were playing to lose the match. All these match-fixing reports are like building castles in the air,” he added. As per Bansal, such allegations bring a bad name to the sport. “It’s my request to media not to give unnecessary hype to this issue as the Indian hockey is on the path of resurgence after some major setbacks.

Moreover, half of the Malaysia-bound team members were juniors and are preparing for the Junior Asia Cup to be hosted in India. The issue, if stretched unnecessarily, might effect their morale,” said Bansal.