Ahead of elections, VHA accused of bias in selection trials pub on Nov 18

By Paritosh Pramanik

AHEAD of Vidarbha Hockey Association’s elections scheduled on December 17, a few district associations have alleged the association was favouring ‘a selected few’ districts and denied their association’s players the right to participate in the selection trials for the senior national championship. The 
trials started from Friday 
morning.
Players from Akola, Yavatmal and Bhandara districts were denied permission to participate in the trials as their association did not get affiliation from VHA in stipulated time. A few members of Yavatmal District Hockey Association were denied permission as they belonged to parallel district association, it has been learnt.
According to information, Bhandara district association secretary Ashok Rajput’s folly can put the career of players in jeopardy. Despite repeated requests from VHA officials, Rajput failed to send affiliation for Bhandara district from VHA before the deadline. Several Bhandara players had to return as they were denied permission. Players from Akola, too, met the same fate as their association did not renew affiliation. However, according to sources, Akola unit had sent affiliation fee to VHA office and had telephonic conversation with VHA joint secretary Pramod Jain, who had assured them of affiliation. Jain said despite repeated request and official letter, Akola’s affiliation request letter and fee did not receive in the given time. “I have talked with Sanjay Bais (Secretary, Akola District Hockey Association) and he accepted his mistake. The matter has been sorted out,” Jain told ‘The Hitavada’.
Jain said same was the case with Bhandara district. “Secretary Ashok Rajput did not send the affiliation in time and hence the players are not allowed. Rajput himself felt guilty of missing the deadline and said he won’t be able to send the players for trials,” stated Jain.
Interestingly, last year VHA had allowed players, irrespective of their affiliation, to take part in the trials. “Last year when we were lenient looking at the future of players, several members criticised us of going against the laws of VHA. They warned us when we allowed players to participate irrespective of their association. Hence we took a tough stand and followed all the rules this year,” said Karunashankar, Secretary, VHA.
The change in stance of VHA officials has once again left the players suffering.