Nandakumar Marar

MUMBAI: Age fudging in age-group competitions, team sport or individual events, is one way to sidestep rules by those obsessed with winning at all costs. In team sports, enforcing the walkover rule even if just one player is deemed overage after official inquiry would be a deterrent. Such a rule would deem teams unable to register players due to eligibility issues concede three points and 5-0 scorelines to their opponents. It would also penalize the team by reversing results  earned in earlier games.

The Manipur Hockey boys team was found guilty of breaking the overage rule during the 11th Hockey India Sub-Junior Men’s National Hockey Championships, conducted at Haryana’s Jind district. The player detected to be overage for the U-17 national-level competition,

Laishram Dipu Singh, was reportedly banned from the tournament after a protest was filed by one of the rival teams. Strangely, Manipur Hockey’s victories over Hockey Gujarat (17-0), Hockey Maharashtra (4-2) and Pondicherry Hockey (9-0) were not overturned.

Incidentally, the suspended player had netted four goals each against Maharashtra and Gujarat to enable Manipur advance from Pool H and go on to beat Hockey Odisha 2-0 in the quarterfinals before losing 0-7 to Haryana in the semi-finals, finishing fourth. To add insult to injury, the placings match between losing Semi-finalists Manipur and Uttar Pradesh Hockey ended 23-0 in the latter’s favour.

Sub-Junior Nationals at Jind: The event will be known for the ground and Manipur’s age fudging issue

L Dipu Singh’s age proof was accepted by the Hockey India-deputed officials at the U-17 sub-junior boys event in Haryana. Manipur fielded him in a higher age group event in 2019, the 9th Hockey India Junior National Men’s Hockey, two years ago in Aurangabad (Maharashtra), then selected him again for a younger age group on the basis of documents the player submitted.

The U-21 representation in 2019 should have flashed in Hockey India (HI) records in 2021 during a scrutiny of player age proof before the U-17 event started, but did not attract attention till a protest was filed. Two different individuals from one state bearing the same name competing in 2019 (Aurangabad) and 2021 (Jind) is probable but then the supporting photo and age proof documents wasn’t likely to escape scrutiny.

Results: Final: Hockey Jharkhand bt Hockey Haryana 3-1 (0-0). 3-4 place: Uttar Pradesh Hockey bt Manipur Hockey 23-0.

HOCKEY INDIA AGE FRAUD POLICY

AGE TESTING: Players in any age level Hockey India tournament, competition or attending a national camp need to get their age verified by way of a medical test prior to participation. Copies of the medical reports confirming the players age is within the specific ‘age category’ for the tournament and competition will need to be sent to HI by state units and members along with the team entry form.

DUE DILIGENCE: To ensure that HI has performed with due diligence with regards to players with an age that falls within the junior and sub-junior category, an additional medical test will be conducted.

PENALTY FOR FRAUD: HI imposes harsh penalties on players and member units found to have intentionally committed an age fraud offence. A player found guilty could be banned from playing any State/ National/International events under HI or member units for up to two seasons or two years.