Since three months, VHA Administrator Sidhra waiting for Hockey India’s reply
By Paritosh Pramanik
IN A valiant attempt to save the rightful existence of Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) and career of hundreds of hockey players of the region, High Court appointed VHA Administrator Triloki Nath Sidhra has written a letter to Hockey India requesting them not to disaffiliate the association and let its players participate in Hockey India organised national championships.
The letter was sent to Hockey India in February but till date no reply has been received by the association which has its headquarters in Nagpur.
“On Wednesday also I had a talk with Cdr RK Srivastava (VSM), Executive Director, Hockey India but there was no reply to the letter which I mailed to them. He only asked me to update the players registration on the portal,” Sidhra told ‘The Hitavada’ on Friday.
In January this year, Hockey India had asked VHA and several other Associate Units to get merge with their State bodies by June 30, 2020, citing Indian Olympic Association’s One-State-One Unit diktat.
VHA was asked to merge with Hockey Maharashtra which is Permanent Member of HI.
VHA was incorporated as an Associate Member with Hockey India in June 2013 after the then president BC Bhartia and secretary Vinod Gawai, fought for its inclusion. Since then VHA teams participated in Hockey India organised nationals.
The then Hockey India Secretary Narinder Batra had even welcomed VHA with open arms and had assured it of full support. “I welcome Vidarbha Hockey Association for their entry into Hockey India as an Associate Member. Vidarbha Hockey Association, who have their own Hockey grounds, needs to make best use of their facilities and produce more and more players. Hockey India will give its full support to Vidarbha Hockey Association for the development of the sport in their areas. I am hopeful that Vidarbha Hockey Association will put in its best efforts to promote the game at grassroot level by organising more and more tournaments in Nagpur and nearby areas,” Batra had said.
However, in January this year, citing IOA diktat, Hockey India gave VHA and 10 other Associate Members six months’ time to get merge with their State Units.
VHA Administrator Sidhra, in his letter, stated that VHA is around 60 years old hockey governing body of Vidarbha and was associated with the federation (the erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation) since 1960. He also informed that Nagpur, the headquarters of VHA, had played host to many invitational and show matches between India and visiting European teams in 80s.
“Vidarbha has a rich culture of hockey since many decades. The association has 22 affiliated districts from Vidarbha, Khandesh and Marathwada. We are not interested in voting rights of Hockey India. We only want all our teams (six) to participate in Hockey India organised nationals. We want to secure career of our players,” Sidhra stated.
Sidhra further wrote, “In 1960, Government of Maharashtra allotted land to VHA (3.80 acre in Civil Lines and 2.5 acre in Sadar area) and regular camps and tournaments are being held for all age groups.
There are 20 Permanent Members of Hockey India (with voting rights) but with 46 Units the Associate Members are much more than permanent members. It also includes departmental teams like ITBP Central Hockey Team, Defence Accounts Sports Control Board, All India Customs & GST, Air India Sports Promotion Board, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to name a few. Apart from this there are 31 Academies associated with Hockey India which participate in nationals while two Hoc-Key Members take part in the lower age groups.
“It would be a disaster and unkind on budding players if Vidarbha teams are not allowed to participate in nationals. Non affiliation from Hockey India might also bring downfall of the game in central India. Just like Hockey India has given affiliation to several academies and other departmental units, I request Hockey India to keep VHA’s Associate Membership intact in interest of the game and players,” Sidhra said.
“We have two hockey grounds in the heart of the city. A separate office building is there and construction work for another building which will also have separate changing rooms for boys and girls is under way. All this is being done from MPs fund. We are not getting any grant from Hockey India but still are managing to arrange funds of around 10-15 lakh from our well-wishers. We are totally devoted to promote the game in the region. I hope Hockey India listen to our genuine request,” said Sidhra.
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