IWHF orders probe into player’s accusation

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEW DELHI,

A DAY after a junior national player accused a coach of misbehaving with her, the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation (IWHF) on Friday ordered an inquiry into the allegations but claimed it was actually the girl herself who was at fault.

Chandigarh-based Navneet Kaur had accused goalkeeping coach A Edwards of making advances towards her at the ongoing national camp in Lucknow and said when she brought the matter to chief coach GS Bhangu’s attention, she was ordered to leave the camp.

Stunned by the allegations, IWHF Secretary Amrit Bose said Navneet informed neither Bhangu nor the federation but said a probe has been ordered to get the real picture. “I don’t know exactly what happened as everything was going smoothly till yesterday but it is an unpleasant episode in the history of Indian women’s hockey. It is a gross violation of discipline and we are not going to tolerate this,” Bose said.

“Both the player and goalkeeping coach have been asked to leave the camp. We are definitely going deep into the matter. I have asked for a detailed report from the chief coach at the earliest which will be put before the IWHF disciplinary committee,” she added.

The IWHF secretary claimed that according to the initial report of the chief coach and other officials in the camp, it was Navneet who misbehaved with Edwards.

Bose also questioned Navneet’s intention and said if the player had any such problem she should have straightaway approached her.