Several past, present players, administrators laud High Court’s decision
By Paritosh Pramanik
SEVERAL former hockey players and administrators welcomed the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court’s decision to include the sub-junior women’s hockey team of Vidarbha Hockey Association in the ongoing 9th Hockey India National Championship at Sikar, Rajasthan.
Justice Manish Pitale, on Wednesday, directed Hockey India to change their schedule and include VHA team in the ongoing 9th Sub-Junior Women’s nationals at Sikar, Rajasthan.
Social media was abuzz with congratulatory messages specially on several WhatsApp groups of hockey players since morning.
Current and former VHA officials as well as players welcomed the court’s decision and hoped that the current stalemate in the association would be solved amicably.
A few also lauded the efforts taken by selection committee chairman Vivek Siriah for pursuing the matter relentlessly with Hockey India.
“Congratulations, today VHA sub-jr girls playing (their) 1st match at Sikar, Jaipur against Uttarakhand,” wrote former VHA joint secretary Bhaskar Naidu on a WhatsApp group.
Former secretary of VHA Shiv Chhatrapati award winner Triloki Nath Sidhra also lauded the court’s decision and also congratulated Siriah.
“At last God blessed the right of players to play at Sikar National Championship by virtue of High Court order. Congratulations to Mr Vivek Siriah and his party for the pain taken,” wrote Sidhra.
Sidhra also requested all the concerned to shun their egos and join hands to take the game to the next level.
“At least Nagpur hockey loving people should learn the lesson (from this) and solve (the issues) among themselves instead of spoiling the image of VHA in whole. All should come with broad mind and open heart for the right of players,” Sidhra added.
Shahid Shaikh of Yavatmal, too, congratulated VHA and said, “players toil hard under sun and their hardwork should not go down the drain.”
Though Vidarbha had a bad outing in their first encounter as they lost to Uttarakhand 7-0, Sidhra said it was part and parcel of the game.
“Losing and winning is not the matter, participation and learning the temperament of (playing at) nationals matters. If atmosphere before leaving Nagpur was (had been) peaceful there would be better result and better performance of the players too,” he wrote.
Chairman of selectors, Siriah thanked all and also requested the warring parties to bury their differences for betterment of hockey. In an emotional message he prayed all to give Vidarbha hockey a new ray of hope.
“With due respect, Appeal to all Seniors, Friend’s and colleagues, kindly bury all past differences and move ahead for betterment of hockey in the region. Argument and counter argument will lead us to nowhere, let’s give Vidarbha hockey a new ray of hope. Regard Vivek,” wrote Siriah.
A former hockey player Rahul Dhargawe congratulated the team for participating in the nationals. At the same time he thanked BC Bhartia, former VHA president and Vinod Gawai, former secretary and selection committee members for challenging Hockey India’s decision to ban VHA, in court.
“Heartily Congratulations. Thanks to Vinod Gawai sir, BC Bhartia sir, Bhaskar Naidu sir for a great support. Really good work and thanks to selection committee too for such wonderful job. Thanks to Vivek Siriah sir (Chairman), Ravi James sir (Convenor), Roshni Kupale madam who conducted the selection trials smoothly and sent the team for national Championships. #Best wishes,” wrote Dhargawe
VHA secretary Pramod Jain, who belongs to AP Joshi group, also welcomed the court’s decision. He was also of the opinion that differences among the executive members should be sorted out amicably in the interest of the game.
“I am very much happy at last that Vidarbha girls team got opportunity to play in national championship. All the differences among the executive members should be sorted out amicably in the interest of the game, and in future VHA should work for the betterment of hockey players and nobody among us (should) see the doors of Courts,” wrote Jain.
In a message to this scribe, former secretary Vinod Gawai said they had to move court for the right of hockey players.
Gawai also said that he was deeply hurt that four teams of VHA could not participate in earlier nationals due to the chaos and confusion created by some people. “We have to move the court for the rights of hockey players. Some people, for their personal gain, created chaos in VHA. They misrepresented Hockey India and even press and were happy with the suspension of VHA. We had no option but to move to hon’ble High Court. Our stand vindicated and we got the justice for hockey players of Vidarbha,” wrote Gawai.
Gawai was of the view that everything would be fine once fresh elections are held.
The elections are due since several months. “I hope everything will be all right soon after the fresh elections. Loss of four nationals participation and halt to the well developed chance of astro turf at VHA will always hurt me. Let’s hope for the best in future,” Gawai concluded.
----------------------
Poor start by
VHA girls in nationals
Principal Correspondent
IT WAS a mixed day for Vidarbha sub-junior women’s team at the 9th Hockey India National Championship at Sikar in Rajasthan. Even though they ‘won’ the chance to play in the national meet after High Court’s order, their performance on the field was not praiseworthy.
Vidarbha lost their first match to Uttarakhand by six goals.
Uttarakhand’s Khushi Katariya scored four goals in (21st, 28th, 33rd and 50th minutes) while skipper Monika Uniyal (6th, 59th) scored two in their team’s win.
Vidarbha are placed in Pool C along with Uttarakhand, Sports Authority of Gujarat Hockey Academy and Hockey Madhya Bharat. Next match on May 18 against Sports Authority of Gujarat Hockey Academy.
No comments:
Post a Comment