Under 18’s unending over-age problem almost solved
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Under 18’s unending over-age problem almost solved
Reecently, Indian hockey came in the limelight, and not too surprisingly, it was because of an unfortunate reason- overage players!
To know what happened then and to get the latest on this front, s2h talked to the coach of the U-18 team, Ajay Kumar Bansal, till recently our Junior India coach.
Recollecting those phase of over-age finding mission, Bansal said, “On Hockey India’s call, almost 100 boys turned up for the U-18 trials at Bhopal. Out of 100, 53 were shortlisted and they were made to undergo a digital X-Ray of wrist in order to confirm their age.
This method is accepted world over to determine the age”
Bansal and his fellow coaches were extremely upset when 48 out of 53 shortlisted boys were overage! Many of them were even in the legally marriageable age ie over 21. So the camp was temporarily called off and Hockey India announced fresh trials after 10 days.
In the next procedure, all the boys were told to bring their wrist X-ray along with them during trials. Almost 100 boys turned up again. On the basis of the X-ray films they brought, only 35 could qualify for the selection. And those 35 were again X-rayed, this time by Hockey India on their own, and again, 14 were 18-plus.
Thus, 21 boys now and the 5 from the first trials, 26 in total, are now undergoing camp at Bhopal under coach Bansal.
Bansal believes that stern steps should be taken to solve this problem of over age, which is present in almost every sport in India. He mentioned that that the digital X-ray technique was used for the first time in India and insisted now it should be made mandatory for all future age group compettiions and trainings.
“The biggest drawback, if overage players play at the junior level, will be that their career will be shortened and that will in turn, harm the Indian hockey. This is a big problem and we are happy we did something about it” said Bansal.
The team for the U-18 Asia Cup, which will be played at Myanmar in November, will be selected in a few weeks time. Interestingly, this tournament is being held for only the second time, that too after a gap of 8 years, and India are the defending champion!
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X-ray is not the best method to determine age. The reserach shows that through x-ray method there could be a variation of + or – 2 years of age difference. The ossification of the bones could take place at an early stage even due to good nutrition. Hence, X-ray is an out dated method. However MRI studies did have more correlation to age of players as stated in birth certificate. It is quite funny to see that the players were asked to bring their x-ray for the second selection trials.. If they are manipulating their date of birth… can’t they do it with X-ray? How can one know that… the X-ray is a particular individuals?
Yes, indeed this a positive step. This sends out a strong message to all those, who thought the screwed up system can be screwed up further.
I don’t think that this change will come over night but the fact that administration has concentrated on this fact and taken those initial steps will be a huge deterrent for many.
And yes, the eventual beneficiary will be Indian Hockey.
Also, how this is implemented is debatable and I am sure people who have locked horns to solve this age old problem of overaged players, after consideration of all possible techniques, will adopt the best possible way.
I thoroughly feel it’s time to welcome such a step.
may be its a good start,how this popular site can say confidently the problem is solved. i don’t agree
its a long lingring problem with Indian sports. I being a Doc. appri. the step taken by Hockey India. The article is clear enough that what ever boys brought at the time of trial, was re chacked and re confirmed, that is the correct procedure.if u only critici
cise the happ’ings then it is not possible to start any genuen, required, and new thing