The Tribune: 4 from city make it to HIL Gurbaj plans legal action

By Rachna Khaira
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, September 18

With the astounding success of the city’s boys at the auction of the Hockey India League (HIL) held in New Delhi yesterday, Gurbaj Singh, another ace player, has threatened to move court against the nine-month sanction imposed on him by the Hockey India (HI). He had made an appeal to the HI against the sanction, but his plea was dismissed by the HI on Thursday.

Talking to The Tribune, Gurbaj said the sanction was imposed in a planned way to damage his career permanently. “I have been denied participation in the HIL auction. Though there was no ground to retain the nine-month sanction, the HI had refused to lift it,” said Gurbaj. He said he would now approach court to claim his innocence. He also said that the sanction had hit his career hard and might cause uncertainty on his participation in Rio Olympics also.
Gurbaj was suspended for nine months for indulging in groupism and creating disharmony within the team, a decision which may also shatter the experienced midfielder’s dream of playing in the next year’s Olympics.

The decision to suspend Gurbaj was taken last month only after a meeting of the HI’s disciplinary committee headed by Harbinder Singh with the midfielder and former India coach Jude Felix, who levelled charges against Gurbaj in his report after the semifinals of the Hockey World League in Antwerp, Belgium.

Meanwhile, stunning even the top guns of the game, India’s forward and city’s Akashdeep Singh, along with Gurwinder Singh Chandi, Jasjit Kular, Mandeep Singh and Manpreet Singh, walked all the way to glory by alone winning a purse of $84,000 at the HIL auction, which saw six franchises bidding for 272 Indian and foreign players for a contractual period of the next two seasons.

Uttar Pradesh Wizards, who played the auction like a spendthrift, beat Dabang Mumbai and Ranchi Rays in a three-way battle to bring Akashdeep in their camp.

The world’s top players from 20 countries were in the spotlight in the Hockey India League auction 2015.
Glorious moments for the city

1422 hrs IST: Akashdeep Singh sold for staggering $ 84,000 to Uttar Pradesh Wizards. The Indian forward’s base price was $ 20,000.

1613 hrs IST: Indian forward Jasjit Singh Kular sold to Jaypee Punjab Warriors for $ 65,000. His base price was $ 10,000.

1305 hrs IST: Indian forward Mandeep Singh is sold to John Abraham’s Delhi Wave Riders for a handsome $ 70,000. There was stiff fight between Ranchi Rays and Delhi. His base price was $ 20,000.

18:05 hrs IST: Gurinder Singh Chandi almost goes unsold, but Ranchi Rays bid for him. Jaypee Punjab Warriors jump into the fray. Big battle held between these two teams. He goes for $ 75,000 to Jaypee Punjab Warriors.