Hindustan Times Impact – HC steps in for wronged hockey player

Saurabh Duggal

Chandigarh

THE PUNJAB and Haryana High Court today directed the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Sports Ministry to hold the re-trials for the goalkeepers of the National Women Hockey team for the Junior Women Asia Cup to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from December 12 to 22.

The order came following a writ petition filed by Harbhajan Singh, father of junior hockey player Navneet Kaur, who was thrown out of the national camp in Lucknow on November 13 after she vociferously objected to the alleged advances made by national goalkeeping coach A. Edwards.

Reacting on the news, which was first highlighted by HT, SAI intervened in the matter and later with SAI’s intervention Navneet was recalled to the camp.

On Friday , a Division Bench comprising Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice Daya Choudhary gave directions to SAI and Sports Ministry to constitute a board consisting of former Indian captain Rupa Saini, Punjab Director Sports Pargat Singh and other two eminent players to be nominated by SAI and hold fresh trials for goal keepers at Lucknow tomorrow.

Rupinder S. Khosla, council for the petitioner said the Bench also directed the Sports Ministry to give clearance to the team, which will be selected after the re-trials.

It is learnt that SAI’s two nominees for the selection committee are Droncharya Awardees M.K. Kaushik and Rajinder Singh (Senior).

Alleging injustice meted out to his daughter, Navneet’s father Harbhajan Singh filed a petition in the High Court seeking a probe into the incident by the Sports Ministry and inclusion of his daughter in the team for the upcoming Junior Asia Cup at Kuala Lumpur.

Navneet’s father asked the HC to direct SAI to depute independent experts to determine whether Navneet is the best goalkeeper in her age group. In case the observers come to such a conclusion, he asked the IWHF be directed to include her in the squad for the Junior Asia Cup.

Pursuant to the order dated December 4, SAI and Sports Ministry produced minutes recorded for the selection of player, however the bench noticed that it was signed only by two members (Harbinder Singh and G.S. Bhnagu) out of the four-member committee.

It was the main allegation of the petitioner that the selection was done in advance and the minutes were recorded later on just to complete formalities when confronted with such allegations SAI and Sports Ministry submitted that the respondents are willing to hold the fresh selections for the goalkeepers.

Earlier, while giving their reply on Thursday , IWHF’s counsel informed the Bench that Navneet was not included in the squad because she was overage and ironically on the previous hearing IWHF’s contention was that Navneet was underage. When the court asked about the basis of this contention, they were unable to produce any documents in their support.

How it unfolded Nov. 13: Navneet ejected from camp. Nov. 16: SAI intervenes, Navneet recalled. Nov 21: Navneet’s father files a writ petition in the HC. Notice issued to IWHF and SAI. Dec 5: HC directs SAI to hold re-trials for goalkeepers.