Sandeep, Sardara appeal against ban imposed by Hockey India

Banned for two years, ace Indian drag-flicker Sandeep Singh and star midfielder Sardara Singh appealed the sanctions imposed on them by Hockey India (HI) on Thursday.

The duo was banned last month for disciplinary breach and will be appearing before a five-member HI committee after meeting the body’s secretary general Narendra Batra.

Batra said that the duo had e-mailed their appeal plea to him and sought for a meeting with him next week. “Both Sandeep and Sardara had sent their appeals to me today. They have also expressed their desire to meet me and I will be meeting them next week any day after Tuesday,” Batra said. “After I meet them, a five-member committee will be formed which will look into their appeal.”

The question though is, will they be let away easily? Sources say the federation might be tempted to bring them back considering that India have to play the Olympic qualifiers in February next year.

The current sentiment is to reduce their term of suspension. “Sardara is presently the best midfielder in the world and Sandeep is one of the best drag-flickers. They have done a mistake but they are still young and they will be crucial to the team in the qualifiers,” a source said.