Allow Odisha To Participate In National Hockey Championship: HC To Hockey India

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Tuesday directed Hockey India to allow the men’s and women’s team of Odisha to participate in the senior national (A division) championships scheduled to begin in Jhansi from January 23 to February 2.

Talking to mediapersons, the counsel of Hockey Odisha, Dayanand Mohapatra said that Hockey Odisha had moved the High Court against the decision of Hockey India. Admitting the petition, a single bench of Justice KR Mohapatra directed Hockey India to allow the Odisha men’s and women’s team in the championship without further delay.

“The High Court in a letter has requested the Additional Solicitor General to serve notice on Hockey India, Government of India. Apart from this, the court has also served a notice to Hockey India CEO and secretary vide speed post,” Mohapatra added.

Notably, Hockey India had denied participation of the men’s and women’s team as Hockey Odisha officials did not register details of the players, such as date of birth and medical certificate (to track fitness) before the deadline (December 31 for men and January 8 for women) on the federation’s member unit (MU) portal.

Apart from the Odisha men’s team, Hockey India has also barred Hockey Jammu and Kashmir, Assam Hockey, Association of Indian Universities (AIU), Hockey Coorg, Hockey Mizoram, Hockey Madhya Bharat and Tripura Hockey to participate in the women’s B division tournament starting in Kollam on January 23.

Besides, Hockey Bhopal and Hockey Gangpur-Odisha are also out of the women’s A division national championship for not sending entries.