Is VHA supporting women's ‘unauthorised’ tournament?

4-2-15
By Paritosh Pramanik

VIDARBHA Hockey Association (VHA) is likely to stir up a controversy by supporting the ‘unauthorised’ inter-district women’s hockey tournament which begins on Wednesday at Tiger’s Gap ground.
The women’s tournament, organised in the memory of Harakchand Chopda, is conducted by Vidarbha Women’s Hockey Association (VWHA) which is affiliated with the now defunct Indian Women’s Hockey Federation.
A media statement issued by VHA states: ‘The Vidarbha Women’s Hockey Association is conducting Inter-District Hockey Tournament under the guidance of VHA at Tiger’s Gap ground’.
By giving ‘guidance’ to the inter-district meet, VHA might land into trouble as the women’s body is yet to be merged with it, as asked by Hockey India.
VHA got Hockey India’s Associate Membership in 2013 and was asked to merge the women’s association (VWHA) on a 60:40 ratio. But that merger is yet not done.
Interestingly, VHA’s joint secretary Pramod Jain holds the same post in VWHA and there are
many more officials who are associated with the women’s association. 
The local teams participating in the tournament, too, are affiliated with VHA.
Former VHA secretary Vinod Gawai opposed the current body’s move of supporting an ‘illegal body’ by posting a news item of the tournament announcement on his facebook page. 
The former secretary also commented on his post: “Dirty politics, dirty alliance resulted in dirty game. Unconstitutional, unethical, unfortunate...God bless VHA...”
The VHA-VWHA ‘alliance’ which could be for some personal gains would definitely land the men’s body into trouble. 
It might also force Hockey India to bar Vidarbha teams from participating in nationals which would be a great loss for players.