Malaysian players accused of accepting bribes to lose match to India

WHILE till now the under belly of gambling and match fixing only plagued sports like cricket and tennis, it has now cast its shadow upon hockey as well, which was otherwise considered aclean and bookie- free sport. In astunning revelation, Malaysian newspaper Malay Mail has alleged that Malaysia’s final match against India during the Sultan Azlan Shah Tournament in Ipoh last month was fixed. Many Malaysian team officials and players were involved in money- lending activities, the daily claimed. The report also implicated aforeign consultant attached with the National Sports Council. He is said to have invested up to nearly Rs 1 crore in the business.

It was revealed that several Malaysian players allegedly bet against their own team for the final preliminary game against India. Malaysia lost 2- 1, and India entered the final against Argentina. Moreover, the report said that aMalaysian player was even paid over Rs one lakh to play in the tournament. The Malaysian Hockey Federation has lodged apolice complaint after the tabloid published the report. The MHF has also started their own investigation on the allegations regarding the match. Back home, many members of the Azlan Shah team, the coaching staff and members of the selection committee, claim that no Indian player was involved and that they have been sent no intimation from the MHF or the FIH. “There is no Indian involvement.

‘ There is no involvement of Indians in current row‘
“If Malaysian players are involved, it’s not for us to bother. We did not even have a hint about it,” selection committee chairman Aslam Sher Khan said. “Our boys played and won four consecutive league matches in which the fourth tie was against Malaysia. It was also anarrow win,” he said. Amember of the Indian coaching staff claimed that he found nothing unusual during that match and in fact added that they won the match by just one goal. “They (Malaysia) played hard and fought throughout the match. Why is our match being targeted as the hosts nearly lost all their matches and came in last during the whole meet,” he said.

The FIH, the game’s world governing body claimed that they were in the dark over the allegations of match fixing but would look into it after the investigations are over. “This is the first time we have heard of such allegations. We compliment the Malaysian Hockey Federation for their prompt action and will wait for the results of the investigation,” FIH President Els van Breda Vriesman was quoted as saying.

COACHLESS TEAM

Indian women’s hockey team, playing in the four- nation tournament in the Netherlands, is in disarray without acoach or a manager as MKKaushik is missing from the contingent because his employer did not clear him to accompany the squad for the 22- day Europe tour. The absence of the chief coach became more blatant in Rotterdam after Indians were thrashed 0- 2by Great Britain in their opening encounter on Tuesday. Kaushik said his employer Haryana Sports Department was yet to clear his name and without their clearance, sanctioning of leave and permission to leave the country was not possible. “The IWHF has got my visa and other papers cleared. The moment I got the clearances from my department I will leave at the next available flight,” Kaushik said. IWHF Secretary Amrit Bose said: “Kaushik could not get his department’s clearance, so he could not go.”