‘Rebel’ hockey stars kept out of practice; HI to decide fate

BANGALORE: Sports Authority of India said it wouldn’t slam the door on the five hockey players who left the national hockey camp without permission on Thursday but the team think-tank made it clear that they will not be allowed for practice on Saturday until a clear word emerged from its bosses in New Delhi.

Coach in-charge SS Grewal had stated on Thursday that since the boys had left for Mumbai for the WSH media conference on Thursday without permission, they would be kept out of practice sessions until Hockey India conveyed its stand on the matter.

The players – Adrian D’Souza, Sandeep Singh, Arjun Halappa, Sardar Singh and Prabhjot Singh – who missed two days of practice owing to their Mumbai visit, entered the SAI campus after sundown but refused to speak to the media or answer calls.

The standoff may continue until Hockey India takes a decision on the report submitted by its disciplinary committee chief Pargat Singh. In his report, Pargat has apparently stated that the players should not be allowed to continue in the camp.

The Union sports ministry too has taken a serious view of the matter. “This is sheer indiscipline. We will not tolerate it,” a ministry source told TOI.

However, there may be no immediate action taken against the players. Sources said the focus is now on the merger talks between HI and Indian Hockey Federation on Monday. “We will take up the players’ issue after the talks,” the sources said.

Pargat said he was shocked at the way the players deserted the camp.

Only conditional approval for WSH: FIH

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) put forth a scaled-down version of the approval that organizers of World Series Hockey presented on Thursday, saying that players could indeed figure in the $3 million tournament provided they had no national or contractual obligations.

WSH organizers had claimed during the media conference in Mumbai that FIH had “promised not to interfere” in the tournament. In a released by the world body on Friday, FIH only made a few other aspects clear besides stressing on the vital issue that WSH, to be held between December 15, 2011 to January 22, 2012, continues to be an “unsanctioned tournament.”