Hockey Mah’s selection trials under VHA VP’s guidance!

n By Paritosh Pramanik

THE presence of two bodies, Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation, seems to have resulted in factionalism in the local units too. Wardha District Hockey Association, affiliated with IHF loyal Vidarbha Hockey Association, has ruffled many a feather by allowing Hockey Maharashtra to conduct selection trials at its ground.
Hockey Maharashtra will be holding sub-junior selection trials from November 16 for Hockey India’s forthcoming Jodhpur Nationals.
VHA vice-president Rajendra Sharma has granted permission to hold the trials at the ground of Chintamani Academy of Management Sciences at which he is the president.
VHA is fighting with Hockey India and Hockey Maharashtra for its existence since 2008. There were reports that district hockey associations of Nanded, Aurangabad, Parbhani have joined Hockey Maharashtra. And if the sources are to be believed, Wardha too is following them.
Sharma, however, denied any such move and said Wardha District Hockey Association was very much part of VHA.
Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, Sharma said he has only provided the infrastructure for the trials and he is not parting ways with VHA.
“A few days back I got a call from Trilokinath Sidhra. He requested me to help in holding selection trials. We decided to hold the trials at the stadium but as the ground was given for police recruitment, we were unable to get that venue.
“I respect Sidhraji a lot and hence decided to give the ground of Chintamani Academy of Management Sciences. I am president of this organisation so I helped him. This does not mean that I am helping Hockey Maharashtra or going against VHA. I am only promoting the game of hockey,” reasoned Sharma.
Sharma said that the press release was not on Wardha District Hockey Association’s letterhead because WDHA was not associated with this selection trials.
“Had it been in tandem with WDHA, the press release would have been on the letterhead,” Sharma clarified.
Sidhra, who is vice-president of Hockey Maharashtra, accepted he had requested Sharma to provide him the ground.
“I wanted to hold trials in Nagpur but grounds were not available here. We would not have got police ground as recruitment drive is under way. VHA would not give us the ground hence we decided to hold trials in Wardha.”
Sidhra said he was not going against VHA. “I am a life member of VHA. I am not going against the association.
“There are many life members who hold posts on various sports bodies. I have been appointed Hockey Maharashtra’s vice-president about a year ago and I have been asked to hold the selection trials,” Sidhra added.
VHA Secretary Vinod Gavai said that no player affiliated with VHA would be allowed to take part in the trials. “I have asked all the district units and clubs not to send their players for the trials conducted by rival body.”
Gavai added: “Stringent action would be taken against those who participate in the trials, be it player, official or district.”