Walkouts hit hockey games

Kusum Arora

Tribune News Service

A major controversy with regard to the ‘outsiders’ erupted on the hockey field, leading to walkouts by three teams during the Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh Punjab Games at the Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium here today.

While the Gurdaspur men’s team alleged that the Ludhiana side had inducted players from Haryana in its ranks, the Amritsar boys claimed that Mohali had players from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), Mumbai, in its ranks.

The last match of the day in the women’s category also saw, the Muktsar girls lodging a protest against Kapurthala for allowing girls from Rail Coach Factory (RCF), Kapurthala, in its team. RCF, Kapurthala has a separate team.

Director Sports, Pargat Singh, is seized of the matter and he was trying to resolve the issue till the filing of this report. The Technical Committee tried to resolve the matter but failed.

In the morning, Gurdaspur stated that certain Ludhiana players were regulars of Namdhari-XI, Sirsa and also played in the recently-concluded SAIL-Nehru Champions College Hockey Tournament here from February 19 to 26.

Following this, the match between Gurdaspur and Ludhiana teams was called off while the match between Amritsar and Mohali also got delayed.

Talking to The Tribune, Manager of Gurdaspur team Sandeep Singh said that the same Ludhiana team had won the Nehru Champions College Hockey Tournament. “During the Nehru Hockey, these players represented Sri Guru Hari Singh College, Sirsa. How can they make fools of us? If they have any identity proofs, they should bring it to the organisers’ notice,” Sandeep said.

The Ludhiana coach, Didar Singh, refused to comment on the issue but its players asserted that they were from Bhaini Sahib Hockey Academy, Ludhiana. “We have all the documents to prove our identity,” they added.

Amritsar complained about IOC, Mumbai, players, a majority of who work in Chandigarh, were playing for Mohali. “The State Sports Department should take a serious view of such violations on the parts of teams,” they stressed.

Sources said that the accusations were justified as players from Haryana were playing in the Punjab Games. “The Games have been conducted to promote sports at the grassroots level in the State but if States like Haryana can play then the very meaning of sportsmanship comes to an end. Moreover, it also involves huge cash awards of Rs 9 lakh for the winners. Why hold Games if the money has to go out of the State?” the sources asked.