The Tribune: Hockey India gives clean chit to Sardar

Sabi Hussain
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 1

Hockey India (HI) president Narinder Batra has thrown his weight behind Sardar Singh with regard to the sexual exploitation charges levelled against him by an England hockey player of Indian origin.

Asserting that Sardar “wasn’t at fault”, Batra said the player had the full backing of the federation on the issue. “First of all, it was their personal matter. HI doesn’t interfere in anyone’s personal life. I’ve the highest regard for women, but HI would have taken action against Sardar had he been at fault,” he said.

“Did Bill Clinton (former US president) resign? Then why are you after Sardar? Leave him alone and let him concentrate on the Rio Olympics preparations. I was aware of this matter for the last one-and-a-half-years, HI is with him.”

But did HI make their own investigations into the matter or even met the girl? It doesn’t seem so. It has been learnt that the complainant did try to get in touch with HI’s senior officials, but she never got an audience.
Speaking on another contentious issue — playing friendly matches with Pakistan in the run-up to the Rio Games — Batra said it was out of question until the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) apologises for its players’ behaviour in the semifinal of the Champions Trophy in December 2014.