Hockey Errant campers return, Hockey India mulls action

Five senior memebers of the Indian hockey camp, who had left the camp on Wednesday night to attend a promotional event of the World Series Hockey in Mumbai, made a quiet return to the Sports Authority of India, South Centre on Friday night.

The players -Arjun Halappa, Adrian D’Souza, Prabhjot Singh, Sandeep Singh and Sardara Singh -defied camp norms and left despite not having the necessary permission from camp co-ordinator S.S. Grewal and Hockey India.

The players who returned from Mumbai were allowed into the campus though it is unlikely that they will be allowed for practice on Saturday.

Grewal had made it clear on Thursday that the players would not be allowed onto the ground, unless they came with a written permission from Hockey India.

With SAI having no problem with the players staying on at the hostel on the campus, the players will have to wait for Hockey India’s discussions about indiscipline, which is not expected until Monday night.

I DECLINED THE INVITATION: RAJPAL

Meanwhile, former skipper Rajpal Singh said, that he declined to go for the Mumbai event despite being invited.

“I was invited for the Mumbai function. But I declined to join them because I felt the fundamental aim of every hockey player at the camp is to prepare for the Olympic qualifiers. “We have already missed one Olympics and cannot afford any distrac tions now. When I was contacted, I told the person that the camp was my first priority and I needed to concentrate on training. Every single training session is important to us now,“ said Rajpal, amidst celebrating the Arjuna award.

WSH UNSANCTIONED, SAYS FIH

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Friday reiterated its stand on the World Series Hockey being an unsanctioned tournament.

In a media statement, the FIH said, “The (FIH) would like to reiterate its position on the proposed World Series Hockey event which is being developed by the IHF in conjunction with Nimbus Sport. The FIH would like to re-state that it has not changed its position on World Series Hockey. It remains an unsanctioned event as per the FIH Statutes and Bye-Laws.“

Regarding the participation of the players, the FIH noted, “Athletes that signed contracts before March 31, could, subject to them having no other contractual or national obligations with their respective National Associations, play in the League.“