STATE GOVT RAISES MHA ISSUE WITH HI

MUMBAI:THE Directorate of Sports and Youth Services, Maharashtra, has written a letter to Hockey India seeking an inquiry into the “alleged irregular, illegal practices & illegal holding of the elections” by the incumbent Mumbai Hockey Association (MHA) officials.

The letter written by Sudhir More, deputy director, Sports and Youth Services, Maharashtra, informed Hockey India (HI) that it has received a complaint from some Olympians and local players from Mumbai alleging irregularities in the conduct of elections and has asked the sport’s national governing body to conduct an inquiry and take action as per law in this matter.

The MHA is an associate member of Hockey India and will be formalising its elected body at the AGM on Tuesday. Following rejection of candidature of four persons, including Olympian Gurbax Singh Grewal, members belong to the ruling group have been elected unopposed.

The complaint, by the players, had alleged that MHA has been selectively enforcing provisions of the National Sports Development Code and Hockey India constitution, implementing age cap for all members of managing committee while ignoring tenure clause and failing to give proper representation to women members.

The letter has also been marked to the Central sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore who had recently urged the state government to ensure implementation of National Sports Development Code in the state. MHA office bearers claim they are not required to follow the nationally recommended sports code as it has not been adopted by the Maharashtra government.