Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 4

Hockey Punjab president Sukhbir Singh Badal today sought the intervention of Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Dr M.S.Gill’s intervention in removing the road-block for the State body’s affiliation to Hockey India.

Sukhbir Badal, who is also the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, said Dr Gill had assured him of “necessary action” to ensure that free and fair election was held to Hockey India, scheduled on January 9. Hockey Punjab secretary-general and former Olympian Pargat Singh and secretary of Sports, Government of India, Nidhi Khullar were also present at the meeting.

Sukhbir apprised Dr Gill that “calculated attempts by vested interests in Hockey India” were being made to deny affiliation to Hockey Punjab “in a deliberate attempt to weaken the nation’s hockey nursery, Punjab”.

Sukhbir Badal later described the ways of Hockey India, the apex hockey body in the country, as “highly discriminatory and illogical, especially towards a State which is not only the birth place of hockey, but has also the proud distinction of giving over a dozen Indian captains and a galaxy of international players to the country”.

Sukhbir Badal also championed the cause of Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala, who were also being denied affiliation by Hockey India.