‘Overage’ hockey players expose triumphant India to international odium

HYDERABAD, July 15: The Indian hockey team at the Junior Asia Cup find itself in the eye of a storm with rival sides from Singapore and Malaysia accusing them of fielding at least six overage players.

Coaches of Singapore and Malaysian teams said they were stunned to see the so-far-unbeaten Indians fielding some “senior” players in the tournament here.
The Indian team officials, have, however, strongly denied that any of their players were overaged.

Mr Chiow Chuan Lim, coach of Singapore and Mr Muralidharan, coach of Malaysia, demanded that the Asian and International Hockey Federations evolve a scientific approach to eradicate the malpractice. “It is not only India, Pakistan and Bangladesh but even the Europeans have been fielding over-age players in FIH recognised tournaments for a long long time. We have been facing this problem even in junior World Cups,” Mr Lim fumed. “The FIH and all the continental federations have to address this problem and put in place a scientific approach to eradicate this,” he said.

An equally miffed Mr Muralidharan said he would have pursued the matter more vigorously if he had some documentary proof in hand. “It has been happening for a couple of years. We cannot make a complaint but we have been requesting them to resolve this issue of teams fielding over-age players in FIH and AHC recognised tournaments.

Our perception is that these players are over aged but we do not have written proof to challenge this,” he rued. “For example, Sunil playing here was registered for the Azlan Shah tournament in May this year as a 25-year-old. This is what my players are also saying. If he was 25 in May this year how can he be 21 now?” Mr Muralidharan asked.

“But there is nothing we can do. It is very disappointing … we are not playing on a level field. I think, this is the best platform for the FIH and AHC officials to address this problem when they meet here this weekend.”Mr Muralidharan and Mr Lim said India had at least six overage players in their ranks.

“There is a general feeling that a minimum of six players are overage. We never made any official complaint since we do not have any proof but our view is that we have been seeing some of the players for a long time at junior levels,” Mr Muralidharan alleged.

“Perhaps one or two of such players can be roped in for both junior and senior level but not nine or 10. If a player is playing at the senior level for three or four years, it is surmised that they would have been playing at the junior level from the age of 16. Based on that, we feel that these players are over-age,” he said.

Mr Lim even went to the extent of saying that Indians fielding overage players has been an old phenomenon. “It has been the case for over two three years in world cups and other events. The present Indian team is almost the same that played in Azlan Shah in Ipoh two months ago. This problem has been there even when I was playing the game on competitive level,” he said. “I am ashamed and it is terrible. My team comprises 16 and 17-years-olds. How is it possible to play against players who are 10 years older? We need a level playing field,” Mr Lim said.

The Malaysian coach, meanwhile, also accused Pakistan and Bangladesh of fielding over-age players. “May be Pakistan and Bangladesh have also fielded over-aged players in this tournament. We have to find a way to identify the age of a player by doing medical examinations like bone test or tooth test.
“We have to ensure that the teams are provided with same level of playing field,” he said