Former Olympians write to Rijiju, Batra to save players future
Principal Correspondent
THE clamour to save their existence has started to grow among hockey associations of Maharashtra. After Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) knocked High Court’s door for their survival with Hockey India, several Mumbai-based legendary Olympians, too, have come forward to save Mumbai Hockey Association and its players’ future.
Hockey India’s decision to disassociate several associations including VHA, Mumbai, Bhopal, Coorg Hockey, Bengaluru Hockey Association, Hockey Patiala has not gown down well with these age-old hockey bodies.
VHA has already filed a writ petition in Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court. VHA has sought separate status and has prayed to let its players play under VHA banner in Hockey India nationals on the lines of Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), but citing Indian Olympic Association norms, Hockey India - apex body of hockey- refused to grant this concession.
Meanwhile, in a positive development, VHA’s attempt has started getting support from other associations. On Thursday, several Olympians came forward in an attempt to save careers of hockey players of Mumbai and have appealed to Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju to save Mumbai hockey as the team won’t be able to take part in the nationals.
According to a report in PTI news agency, The Mumbai Hockey Association Limited has decided against legally contesting Hockey India’s move to withdraw their associate membership and recognise Hockey Maharashtra as the state’s sole representative body for the sport.
Twelve former India players – Dhanraj Pillay, MM Somaya, Joaquim Carvalho, Mervyn Fernandes, Marcellus Gomes, Balbir Singh Grewal, Gurubax Singh Grewal, Viren Rasquinha, Iqbaljit Singh, Eliza Nelson, Selma D’Silva and Margaret Toscano – have together written a mail to Rijiju, IOA chief Narendra Batra, its secretary Rajeev Mehta and HI president Mushtaq Ahmad – seeking their intervention to save hockey in the mega polis, the reports states.
“In summary we would like to say that there are two significant drawbacks of not permitting a separate Mumbai team to participate in the National Hockey Championship. Indian hockey talent pool would get weakened,” the agency report stated.
“With fewer players from the city of Mumbai representing Maharashtra in the nationals, there would be less opportunities to showcase their talent. Many deserving players would not get spotted by national selectors,” the report quoted former players as saying.
“With Hockey Maharashtra being based out of Pune and fewer players from Mumbai getting National colours, job opportunities for hockey players in Mumbai would reduce. Employers would consider discontinuing sponsorship of hockey teams. This will destabilise the hockey ecosystem in Mumbai,” the players further wrote.
Same is the case with Vidarbha players who too would go unnoticed after their Associate Membership is withdrawn.
The former players also suggested to amend Hockey India and IOA constitution. “If needed an amendment in constitution should be urgently considered by IOA/HI to save hockey in Mumbai as well as in other high potential centres,” the report states.
Just like VHA, the former Olympians, in the mail, also cited the example of BCCI, which has allowed Mumbai Cricket Association to field a separate team in the Ranji Trophy, the national domestic competition.
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