Prabhjot apologises for provocative gesture

Tribune News Service

India’s ace striker Prabhjot Singh has apologised for his provocative gesture towards a section of the spectators after India’s match against Argentina in the Hero Honda FIH World Cup Hockey Championship at the National Stadium on March 12.

Hockey India, taking a serious view of the incident, had issued a show cause notice to Prabhjot through national coach Harendra Singh for his “unseeming conduct” and the player has expressed his regret for his behaviour, which, he said, he did in the “heat of the moment”.

“Firstly, I would like to apologise that an inappropriate picture of mine was published on 13th March, 2010. The incident that happened was a result of a series of events that took place”, Prabhjot wrote in his reply to Hockey India. He said the incident happened due to provocation from a section of the spectators.

“A particular group of people, supporting the opposition team, had been regularly staying back after every match and passing lewd comments about me and the team during our cool-down sessions. I had ignored their provocative behaviour during the previous matches. However, during our last match, they came down to the protective grills and started passing comments on my family. In addition, they started showing provocative gestures and became derogatory.”