NEW DELHI: Hockey Punjab president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday met Sports Minister MS Gill, seeking his intervention to help the state unit get affiliation from Hockey India.

Badal told the Union Minister that due to “calculated attempts by vested interests in Hockey India” the sport in the state, which has produced several international players, is getting weaker.

Besides Badal, Director Sports Punjab Pagrat Singh and Union Sports Secretary Nidhi Khullar were also present in the meeting.

Badal has already accused the Indian Olympics Association and its president Suresh Kalmadi of hatching a conspiracy against the state by debarring them from Hockey India’s January 29 elections.