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Sports Reporter
VIDARBHA Hockey Association’s (VHA) decision to conduct selection trials for sub-junior women’s team has landed in controversy after President of Vidarbha Hockey Association Arvind Joshi alleged that the selection committee itself was illegal.
The VHA faction, led by suspended president BC Bhartia and secretary Vinod Gavai, whose names still have a mention on the letter head, has sent a press note regarding selection of Vidarbha sub-junior girls women’s team for 9th Hockey India’s Sub-Junior Women Championship to be held at Sikar, Rajasthan from May 15-25.
The letter signed by Vivek Siriah, Chairman, VHA Sub-Junior (Men/Women) Selection Committee, mentions May 1 and 2 as dates for selection trials to be held at VHA ground. They have also attached two-page High Court order that says that (if there is no dispute) they can select the players and forward their names to Hockey India.
Countering the press note, Joshi released a letter on a plain paper with VHA seal at the end, claiming that the Selection Committee (comprising Siriah, Ravi James, Kunal Patil, Roshani Kupale and Manisha Akare) was itself illegal.
He claimed that all the sub committees had been dissolved in the executive committee held on 25-08-2018 and after that no executive meeting had been called. He added that according to the VHA constitution, it is the responsibility of secretary to call selection trials and selection committee has no power to call and conduct such trials.
Joshi concluded by mentioning that though they respect court’s decision, there are many facts that were not presented before the honourable High Court.
Nagpur, Railways’ star player selected in
33-member core group by Hockey India
By Paritosh Pramanik
SAYYAD Niyaz Rahim is just a step away from fulfilling his as well as Nagpurians’ dreams. The star player, who plays for Indian Railways has made it to the 33-member core group of Indian hockey team.
Niyaz was first selected for the 60-member Senior Men’s National Hockey Camp by Hockey India two weeks ago. After the 12 days trials at SAI Centre Bengaluru, the squad was pruned to 33.
Hockey India generally picks 18-member team from these 33 members for various tournaments. With a couple of tournaments lined up, Niyaz is all but sure to get his India cap sooner than later.
An elated Niyaz thanked Almighty for his selection in the core group. “As I have already said my first target was to get in core group. That target I have achieved now,” said Niyaz from Bengaluru where the core group’s camp is under way.
Niyaz said it was not an easy task to get selected in the list of 33 as the competition was too hard.
“I was the only fresh face in this core group as all the others have been here for quite some time. The competition was too tough. Everybody gave more than 100 per cent. But by the grace of Almighty I managed to overcome all the challenges,” said the midfielder, who has won half a dozen national championships for Indian Railways and other teams.
Even as getting selected in the core group is a welcome news, Niyaz knows the road ahead would be more tougher. From here on he will now have to perform at the top to get into the final 18.
“It won’t be easy from here on. I have to be on my toes all the time. Now I can’t relax. The road is much tougher now. I will have to give 110 per cent to get included in the 18-member team because all the other 32 members selected are of top class,” explained Niyaz.
India would be travelling to Australia next month before the team is selected for Hockey World Series Final to be held at Bhubaneswar. Niyaz said he would try to get in selected and will work hard for it. “I would try to get selected for the Australia tour. That’s the target now,” said Niyaz.
Hailing from a hockey playing family, Niyaz, son of former national-level player Mumtaz-ur Rahim, fondly called as ‘Rabbani chacha’ in hockey circle, learned the tricks of trade playing at his school Tidke Vidyalaya. At the same time he joined Bright Club and then Police Boys before settling with Dhyanchand Sports Academy, one of the best clubs of the region. After passing out from Tidke in 2005, the fleet-footed Niyaz did his graduation in Bachelors in Physical Education in 2011. He travelled with South East Central Railways team and started playing all over the country. He was selected by SAI, Mumbai and later got a job with the South Central Railways on the basis of his unbeatable performance.
“All credit to my family and all those who helped me reach this far,” said Niyaz.
“The list of my well-wishers is long. I don’t want to miss out anybody hence not taking any name,” said Niyaz.
Niyaz is an integral part of Indian Railways (RSPB) team for more than six years and has won Hockey India Nationals on three successive seasons.
By Paritosh Pramanik
WITH Hockey India suspending Vidarbha Hockey Association, the hockey governing body of the region has no other option but to allow players from Nagpur and its affiliated districts to attend the selection trials organised by Hockey Maharashtra.
Hockey Maharashtra is conducting trials for the 9th Hockey India Sub-junior Men and Sub-Junior Women Nationals, at Pune.
Several players from Nagpur as well as from Akola, Amravati, Yavatmal districts which are affiliated with VHA, are attending the trials.
VHA generally does not allow its players to attend trials organised by other state bodies. But with Hockey India suspending them for the 2018-19 season due to bickering among the executive members, they had no other option but to allow the players.
“Generally, it is against the rules. VHA registered players can’t take part in selection trials of other state units.
“But looking at the present scenario and future of players, they can attend the trials,” said Arvind Joshi who has been appointed as the president of the association by eight members of the 13-member executive committee.
Joshi also said this would not be allowed once the ban is lifted from next season.
“We are hoping that the ban will be revoked soon. Players won’t be allowed to give trials for other states once we are back in HI fold,” added Joshi.
He also said that if the ban is lifted and VHA gets a chance to take part in this year’s sub-junior men and sub-junior women championships (Division B), those selected for Maharashtra team won’t be allowed to appear for selection trials of VHA team.
“Maharashtra team plays in Division A and we are in Division B. If any of our players are selected in the Maharashtra teams, they would not be allowed to appear for trials for Vidarbha team this season,” Joshi clarified.
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Himanshi, Sharvari in Maharashtra probables list
CITY’S Himanshi Gawande and Sharvari Kumbhare have been included in Hockey Maharashtra’s list of probable players for the 9th Hockey India’s sub-junior women championship which is going to be held at Hisar in Haryana from May 27 to June 7.
The selection trials were organised by Hockey Maharashtra at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Mhalunge, Balewadi on Wednesday. Twenty-six probable players were selected.
The conditioning camp will be held at Pune from May 2 during which an 18-member Maharashtra sub-junior women’s team will be selected.
While Himanshi appeared for forward position, Sharvari gave trials for midfielder’s post.
Both the players are students of Ira International School. Himanshi has represented Vidarbha in three national meets while Sharvari has played twice for Vidarbha.
By Paritosh Pramanik
WITH Hockey India (HI) suspending Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) for the season, players from several districts affiliated with VHA have no other option but to seek help of Hockey Maharashtra in saving their careers.
Several players from Nagpur as well as from Amravati, Akola, Yavatmal, Chandrapur, Wardha—all affiliated with VHA — have left for Pune to attend the selection trials for the forthcoming Hockey India’s 9th Sub-junior men and sub-junior women nationals, it has been learnt.
Hockey Maharashtra plays in Division A while Vidarbha participates in second-tier Division B national tournaments organised by Hockey India.
The 9th Hockey India Sub-Junior Men National Championship ‘A’ Division is going to be held at Raipur, Chhattisgarh from May 11 to 22 while the sub-junior women’s meet is going to be held at Hisar in Haryana from May 27 to
June 7.
Hockey India has suspended VHA for the season due to the infighting among the executive members.
VHA, which is divided in two groups, had sent two teams for men’s senior and junior nationals late last year which forced Hockey India to bar both the teams from participation. Immediately, Hockey India suspended VHA until the dispute is resolved.
This had put a big question mark on the career of players without any fault of theirs.
BC Bhartia, the then president of the association approached High Court challenging Hockey India’s decision to suspend them. The High Court has asked Deputy Charity Commissioner, Nagpur to appoint an Administrator until the dispute is resolved.
In the meantime, eight executive members of VHA passed a resolution to suspend president Bhartia and secretary Vinod Gawai for irregularities and dictatorial functioning.
They also promoted vice-president Arvind Joshi as president and joint secretary Pramod Jain as secretary.
But still, the ‘newly appointed’ heads of the association failed to revoke Hockey India’s decision of suspensions. This forced helpless players to move to greener pasture and they decided to appear for Hockey Maharashtra’s trials. The sub-junior women’s trials will be held on April 24 while the sub-junior boys’ trials will be held from April 25 at Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Mhalunge, Balewadi.
City’s sub-junior girls, who have played a combined eight nationals for Vidarbha, have left for Pune on Tuesday.
Himanshi Gawande, Sharvari Kumbhare, Prerna Bodkhe and Ishika Mondal will be reaching Pune on Wednesday morning to attend the one day trial.
Similarly, Kaustubh Baradiya and Raunak Chaudhary, both of Nagpur, too, left for Pune to attend the sub-junior boys trials.
“Players from Amravati, Akola, Wardha, Yavatmal, Armori will also be attending trials at Pune. We have no other option but to send players to Pune as the bickering between two factions of Vidarbha is unending.
“They (VHA officials) have nothing to lose but it is the players who are suffering,” one of the officials of VHA affiliated units said on condition of anonymity.
Hockey Maharashtra had already announced that they will open their doors for Vidarbha players.
“We will definitely allow players from Vidarbha to attend selection trials. There is infighting in VHA and players are suffering. We will not let them lose their chance to play nationals, if selected,” Hockey Maharashtra secretary Manoj Bhore had told ‘The Hitavada’ after VHA was
suspended.
Staff Reporter
IN AN effort to save the game of hockey from factional feud within Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA), Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Tuesday directed Deputy Charity Commissioner to appoint a body of fit persons as administrator to manage the affairs of VHA. This body of administrator will run the show and also select the VHA teams for future tournaments.
The High Court was hearing a petition filed by VHA President B C Bharatiya and Secretary Vinod Gavai against Hockey India’s communication dated January 7, 2019 debarring VHA teams from participating in upcoming hockey nationals in the year 2019.
This action by the Hockey India against VHA has been preceded by the suspension of the associate membership of VHA due to confusion prevailing in it due to groupism.
A division bench consisting of Justice Ravi Deshpande and Justice Shriram Modak after a detailed hearing found that due to factional feud within VHA, young and talented players were deprived from participating in national matches and hence passed direction to handover reins of VHA to administrator.
All the sides have been directed to appear before Deputy Charity Commissioner on April 22 and submit names of eminent sports persons. The authority has been directed to form a consensus panel which will handle VHA’s administration till the controversy is not settled.
The 13-member executive committee of VHA was divided with AP Joshi group allegedly suspending president BC Bhartiya and secretary Vinod Gavai for irregularities and running the association in a dictatorial manner.
This resulted in VHA sending two teams for senior nationals at Chennai and Jabalpur where Hockey India did not allow any of the teams to participate putting a question mark on careers of budding players. Bhartiya then approached court against Hockey India’s decision to suspend the association.
In the meanwhile, the eight members of rival panel (AP Joshi panel), claimed to appoint vice-president Arvind Joshi as its new president and joint secretary Pramod Jain as its secretary. They also approached Hockey India and submitted minutes of the meetings in which the eight members unanimously elected Joshi and Jain.
Advocate Rohit M Sharma appeared for the petitioner-VHA. Adv Saurabh Chaudhari (Union Sports Ministry), Adv Shreerang Bhandarkar (other faction) appeared in the matter.
By Paritosh Pramanik
April 10, 2019
AFTER scratching their heads with rooks, bishops, knights and pawns, city’s chess prodigies will now be turning hundreds of pages from their curriculum when they return to city and appear for their Class VII exams.
City’s ‘King’ and ‘Queen’ chess wizards International Master Raunak Sadhwani and Woman International Master Divya Deshmukh, both students of Std VII, have won accolades in last couple of months when they participated in Sharjah and Dubai International chess competitions.
With the tournaments clashing with their examinations, both were given exemption by their schools to appear for the same at later dates.
With Dubai Open concluding on Tuesday where they gave commendable performances apart from winning important rating points, Divya, a student of Bhavan’s Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir, Civil Lines branch, and Raunak, a student of Centre Point School, Katol Road, will keep the chess boards aside and concentrate on their exams.
Both are equally talented and sharp in their studies and would have no difficulties while switching from board to books preparing for their final exams.
The best part is the support both the chess genius get from their respective schools.
Youngest Shiv Chhatrapati award winner Divya has been carrying an extra baggage of her study material while playing tournaments. She has made it a point to balance studies and sports equally. Her school has permitted her to appear for final exams once she returns from Dubai.
“Divya will appear for her exams once we are back. School Principal Anju Bhutani is very supportive and has agreed to take her exams after the tournament. From tomorrow it’s exam time for her,” said Divya’s mother Dr Namrata Deshmukh while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ from Dubai.
“We are carrying books and she studies daily till she finishes the decided chapter. Sometimes if chess preparation is more she does not get time to study,” added Dr Namrata.
It’s been a long tour for Divya since she left the Indian shores for Moscow meet.
“We were in Moscow, Vietnam before coming to UAE. In February, we were in Moscow and then moved to Ho Chi Minh for Vietnam Open. From there we came to UAE for these meets,” said Divya’s mother.
In Moscow Divya got Second WGM norm. She missed the IM norm by a whisker but managed to raise her ELO Rating. At Vietnam, Divya gave a decent performance. She again improved her ELO by around 59 points.
The Sharjah meet was a big learning experience for Divya. And at Dubai, she is playing with altogether different rating and is learning to adjust with that
rating.
“Playing with this rating is different as she has to fight back strongly. She is learning and also playing with maximum power, fighting back,” said Divya’s mother.
Similarly, Raunak, too, has performed well in these two tournaments and will be appearing for his exams immediately after returning to India.
“School plays a very important role in Raunak’s journey. They are very supportive and co-operative,” said Raunak’s mother Hina.
Unlike Divya, Raunak does not carry any school books. He wants to concentrate only on chess at the moment. But he has the ability to grasp quickly and thus believes that he will be ready for his examinations.
“During tournaments studying is not possible for him (Raunak). He is focused on his game.
“Actually at this level balancing both is very difficult.
“To some extent studies get affected. Once Raunak becomes Grandmaster he will take a break from chess and focus on his studies,” said Hina.
Hina credited Raunak’s school for their support. “School is very supportive, Principal Shilpi Ganguly encourages him to move ahead in chess and bring glory for everyone. As for his grasping power, he learns very fast. Normally, chess players grasp things very fast.
“At this level he is very close to becoming a Grandmaster. So we are focusing on that and keeping studies aside for time being. It’s a brain game, so distractions are not good during tournaments.
“Once his GM title is achieved, he will keep chess aside for sometime. He needs just two GM norms and a rating of 25 more points to become a Grand Master,” said Hina, who is with Raunak in Dubai.
Mrudul Dehankar, who appeared for her Std IX exams and flew for tournaments just a couple of days later, did not have a great tournament. But she too is a bright future of the city.
“This time Mrudul could not concentrate on chess as she had her Std IX exam. She got just two days to prepare for these meets,” said Mrudul’s father Vilas.
He also thanked Mrudul’s school Bhavan’s Trimurti Nagar branch for supporting her.
“They are very supportive. Principal Parvati Iyer has supported Mrudul which helped her achieve this success,” said Vilas.
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