THE exodus has begun by Paritosh Pramnik.

With Hockey India’s (HI) adamant stand on one-state-one-unit, chances of Vidarbha hockey team’s participation in national tournaments are all but over.

In the first senior national championships, under way at Bhopal, several hockey players, registered with Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) as well as officials from Nagpur, have decided to move to greener pastures for a better future. Vidarbha’s loss has turned out to be Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra teams’ gain. As many as six players who participated in VHA’s league and district tournaments are representing Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra in the nationals.

Chhattisgarh captain Dalbir Singh, who gave his team the lead against star-studded Air India, goal-keeper Chandan Singh, defender Nisaruddin and Ejaz Qureshi all are VHA’s registered players and played in the league conducted by VHA earlier this year.

Dalbir, Chandan and Nisaruddin represent South East Central Railway hockey team while Ejaz Qureshi represents Divisional Sports Association Central Railway, Nagpur. All are now helping Chhattisgarh make it to the quarter-finals.

Similarly, two local players, too, decided to represent Maharashtra saying good-bye to VHA. Junior India player Ather Mirza and his brother Irshad Mirza, who had represented Vidarbha on many occasions, are now playing for Maharashtra team. In fact, they are the key members of the squad. Irshad even scored a goal in their huge win over Goa.

While Ather participated in trials held in Mumbai last month, Irshad, who plays for Western Railway, was selected on the basis of his fine performance.

All the six talented players could have been part of Vidarbha’s team had they got a chance in Hockey India’s nationals. Since Hockey India’s inception in 2008, VHA’s existence was in danger with the hockey governing body (HI) strictly adhering to one-state-one-unit policy. As there were bleak chances of representing a team in the nationals it was but natural for these players to search for a better option. Things got easy for Dalbir, Chandan, Nisaruddin and Ejaz as they all belong to Chhattisgarh.

Veteran defender Nisaruddin hails from Rajnandgaon while Dalbir Singh and Central Railway’s Ejaz Qureshi come from Durg. Custodian Chandan Singh represents SECR Bilaspur Headquarters hockey team and was exceptional in the last inter-railway all India tournament.
It’s not only the players who have left VHA. Some officials, too, have parted ways with VHA and joined Hockey India.

At the ongoing Bhopal meet, national umpire Faiyyaz Qureshi is working as a technical officer while Manish Gour, another umpire of national repute, is officiating in matches.
“It’s high time we had moved. Hockey India is the sole hockey governing body and Vidarbha, affiliated with Indian Hockey Federation, is not allowed to take part in the nationals. Hence I decided to join Hockey India,” said one of the officials.

As for the SECR players, they had to first take permission from their department to play in the nationals. “SECR sports department first sought permission from RSPB whether they could participate in the tournament. When given green signal, the players got NOC from their department to represent Chhattisgarh,” said an SE Railway official.

The trend set by these players and officials is likely to be followed by many others in Vidarbha. For a better future many are likely
to join Hockey Maharashtra, sources said.

(Courtesy The Hitavada)