By Paritosh Pramanik
Aug 8, 2015
AFTER more than 60 years of Vidarbha Hockey Association’s inception, there is a ray of hope for players of the city and nearby region to get astro turf if the flex banner erected besides Vidarbha Hockey Association’s entrance gate is any indication. The astro turf stadium is proposed to be named after Keshavrao Hedgewar. Surprisingly, VHA president and secretary are unaware of this development.
It was learnt that the banner was put up by VHA vice-president TN Sidhra on some life members’ request.
“Some VHA life members demanded to give the proposed stadium the name of Sarsanghachalak Keshavrao Hedgewar, the founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and I obliged them,” Sidhra said.
VHA President Radheshyam Sarda and Secretary Vinod Trivedi are “totally unaware” of any such development.
“I don’t have any knowledge about the banner,” Sarda told ‘The Hitavada’.
The news of naming the proposed stadium after Hedgewar was doing rounds for some time. That time too, Sarda denied having any knowledge about the development.
“We had our regular executive committee meeting on Wednesday and nothing was discussed regarding the naming of the proposed stadium. Nothing has been finalised yet about it,” Sarda said on Friday.
VHA secretary Vinod Trivedi, too, claimed his unawareness about the name of the stadium.
“I am totally unaware about it. Nothing was discussed in the executive meeting on Wednesday,” Trivedi said.
On whether he will support the decision of naming the proposed stadium as ‘Keshavrao Hedgewar Hockey Stadium’, the secretary said, “This is not the decision of a single member. This proposal has to be put up before the Council at the annual general meeting or special general body meeting.
“The name of the stadium has to be proposed at the AGM or GB,” he mentioned.
Sidhra, on his part said, though he has not sought permission of the VHA executive committee, he asked the ground’s marker to put it besides the entrance gate.
“I had ordered to put it (the banner) up on the hoarding. Yes I have not taken any permission or informed the president or secretary as I did not feel the need.
“A group of life members led by Tejraj Batra came to me and requested to give the name of Hedgewar to the proposed astro-turf stadium. I found nothing wrong in it, so I did it,” Sidhra averred.
“If we want to take Vidarbha hockey on par with other states, the players will have to play on astro turf on regular basis. Astro turf is the only ladder through which Vidarbha hockey can go northwards. I don’t want to politicise the issue. I only want an astro turf stadium at VHA so that our players can prosper,” Sidhra stated.
When asked whether he will support any other name to the proposed stadium, Sidhra retorted, “Give the proposed stadium name of Sharad Pawar, Rajiv Gandhi or any other leader or player, I have no objection to it. I want an astro turf in the city, that’s all.”
The issue has once again brought to fore the differences among the present VHA body.
During elections last November, two panels — from Sadar and Ajni, joined hands to oust BC Bhartia and Vinod Gawai’s ruling body. They succeeded in it by winning all the posts. But cracks started to develop immediately after that, it has been learnt.
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Centre, State govts
to fund stadium
The astro turf hockey stadium at VHA ground will be built by Central and State Governments. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Cabinet Minister Nitin Gadkari have recently asked VHA officials to submit detailed proposal.
The stadium will be constructed at VHA’s 3.9 acre land off Amravati Road.
VHA has authorised executive member Dayashankar Tiwari to follow up the issue.
“VHA has submitted relevant documents to the government as well as to NMC. The proposal and proposed documents will now be sent to Pune and from there to Mumbai for further clearance,” informed Tiwari.
Aug 8, 2015
AFTER more than 60 years of Vidarbha Hockey Association’s inception, there is a ray of hope for players of the city and nearby region to get astro turf if the flex banner erected besides Vidarbha Hockey Association’s entrance gate is any indication. The astro turf stadium is proposed to be named after Keshavrao Hedgewar. Surprisingly, VHA president and secretary are unaware of this development.
It was learnt that the banner was put up by VHA vice-president TN Sidhra on some life members’ request.
“Some VHA life members demanded to give the proposed stadium the name of Sarsanghachalak Keshavrao Hedgewar, the founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and I obliged them,” Sidhra said.
VHA President Radheshyam Sarda and Secretary Vinod Trivedi are “totally unaware” of any such development.
“I don’t have any knowledge about the banner,” Sarda told ‘The Hitavada’.
The news of naming the proposed stadium after Hedgewar was doing rounds for some time. That time too, Sarda denied having any knowledge about the development.
“We had our regular executive committee meeting on Wednesday and nothing was discussed regarding the naming of the proposed stadium. Nothing has been finalised yet about it,” Sarda said on Friday.
VHA secretary Vinod Trivedi, too, claimed his unawareness about the name of the stadium.
“I am totally unaware about it. Nothing was discussed in the executive meeting on Wednesday,” Trivedi said.
On whether he will support the decision of naming the proposed stadium as ‘Keshavrao Hedgewar Hockey Stadium’, the secretary said, “This is not the decision of a single member. This proposal has to be put up before the Council at the annual general meeting or special general body meeting.
“The name of the stadium has to be proposed at the AGM or GB,” he mentioned.
Sidhra, on his part said, though he has not sought permission of the VHA executive committee, he asked the ground’s marker to put it besides the entrance gate.
“I had ordered to put it (the banner) up on the hoarding. Yes I have not taken any permission or informed the president or secretary as I did not feel the need.
“A group of life members led by Tejraj Batra came to me and requested to give the name of Hedgewar to the proposed astro-turf stadium. I found nothing wrong in it, so I did it,” Sidhra averred.
“If we want to take Vidarbha hockey on par with other states, the players will have to play on astro turf on regular basis. Astro turf is the only ladder through which Vidarbha hockey can go northwards. I don’t want to politicise the issue. I only want an astro turf stadium at VHA so that our players can prosper,” Sidhra stated.
When asked whether he will support any other name to the proposed stadium, Sidhra retorted, “Give the proposed stadium name of Sharad Pawar, Rajiv Gandhi or any other leader or player, I have no objection to it. I want an astro turf in the city, that’s all.”
The issue has once again brought to fore the differences among the present VHA body.
During elections last November, two panels — from Sadar and Ajni, joined hands to oust BC Bhartia and Vinod Gawai’s ruling body. They succeeded in it by winning all the posts. But cracks started to develop immediately after that, it has been learnt.
-----------
Centre, State govts
to fund stadium
The astro turf hockey stadium at VHA ground will be built by Central and State Governments. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Cabinet Minister Nitin Gadkari have recently asked VHA officials to submit detailed proposal.
The stadium will be constructed at VHA’s 3.9 acre land off Amravati Road.
VHA has authorised executive member Dayashankar Tiwari to follow up the issue.
“VHA has submitted relevant documents to the government as well as to NMC. The proposal and proposed documents will now be sent to Pune and from there to Mumbai for further clearance,” informed Tiwari.
