Stop infighting, pick best hockey teams, says SC

Sat, Aug 28 10 06:53 AM

"Much ado about nothing," was the Supreme Court's reaction to a two-hour war of words among four sports bodies to decide which of them will field the country's national hockey teams for the Commonwealth Games. Justice R Raveendran made the remark after hearing the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Hockey India (HI), Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), exasperated after realising that the same team of players, coaches and selectors were being fought over. "We do hope that what is relevant and important at this point is that the best teams India can put forward play in the Commonwealth Games, and not the internal squabbling among you," the Bench observed.

The responsibility to host the teams finally fell on HI in its capacity as the body affiliated to the International Hockey Federation (FIH). The IOA will work as the apex body during the Games, the court ordered.

Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, appearing for SAI, protested HI's candidature to run the teams, claiming that SAI had got former players Zafar Iqbal and Ajit Pal Singh to groom the players.

HI counsel and senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi claimed the two as "our coaches." IOA lawyer Indu Malhotra said her's was an "umbrella" organisation with no expertise in hockey but was in court to field for HI. "This is for the first time I am hearing the Government of India say HI has no role in CWG," Malhotra said.

The IHF lawyer immediately protested, saying the IOA had sent teams to international events in 1975, 1988, 2000, 2004. The IHF, however, agreed that it did not want to sponsor the national teams at this time.

"If you cannot send a team, we will hear you at leisure," the Bench said. Deciding on a joint venture between HI and IOA, the Bench, also comprising Justice HL Gokhale, said in its order: "HI claims to be the national federation for hockey. IHF says it is not affiliated, and so not in a position to field a team. SAI wants IOA to field the teams. We find this a case of much ado about nothing. We accordingly direct as interim means that IOA and HI to field the Indian mean's and women's hockey teams in the Commonwealth Games". Justice Raveendran was later heard instructing his court master: "Please list after the Games". He also requested the lawyers to "please not come here anymore on this thing".

Source: Published>