The prolonged struggle for power between the country's two hockey bodies ufffd Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Hockey India (HI) ufffd spilled on to the Mumbai Hockey Association turf yesterday as nearly 50 players, who turned up for the IHF's selection trails for their senior nationals were not allowed on the ground
Facilitator of the trials, Jagdeep Nanjappa said MHA was being unfair to the players as it has recently changed its affiliation from IHF to HI.u00a0
“We have a letter from the government to permit usage of the MHA for practice from March 11 to 15. However, MHA did not let us in and locked the gates to the astro turf due to which the players had to train on the a mud patch nearby,” said Nanjappa.
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A player displays the letter of permission as others look on at the MHA yesterday. Pic/Suresh KK
The MHA however claim that they had asked for a letter with the lists of players scheduled to practice, but it was not provided to them.
“There are two reasons why we didn’t allow them to play. Firstly, we have been informed that the IHF nationals have been cancelled.
“Secondly, they have not given us the list of players despite requesting Deputy Director of Sports and Youth Affairs NB Mote for it,” MHA Honorary Secretary Ram Singh Rathor said.
Mote refused to take sides in the issue. “Whatever differences HI and IHF have, let them fight it out in court. The players were there for senior nationals selection trials and I can’t understand why they were not allowed to practise yesterday.”u00a0
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