Maharashtra sets example with maiden tour

MUMBAI, SEPT 5: The Maharashtra state team that will depart for The Netherlands to participate in the Hague hockey festival will achieve ...

MUMBAI, SEPT 5: The Maharashtra state team that will depart for The Netherlands to participate in the Hague hockey festival will achieve many firsts.

It is for the first time that a state team has been invited to participate in an international tournament. It is also for the first time that a hockey squad in India has been selected after taking the captain into consideration, a practice that is usually limited to cricket.

India’s mercurial forward Dhanraj Pillay, who will lead the side, said the trip will offer good exposure to the younger players, many of whom will be making their international debut. Among them are Manoj Lokhande, Sridhar Krishnamurthy, Amar Ayyamma and Romeo Albequerque.

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While the tour has the backing of the Maharashtra Olympic Association (MOA), the promoters have ruffled the feathers of the Bombay Hockey Association (BHA). BHA sources said it was very irregular that the BHA was not consulted about the tour, even though many BHA players are making the trip. BHA secretary KL Passi,who is also the vice-president of the MOA, said even he came to know about the tour much later, even though the MOA had ostensibly accorded permission to the promoters.

Tour officials were quiet on these allegations, but said the tour was good for hockey in the state, as many players would get valuable exposure playing alongside experienced stars like Pillay, Sabu Varkey and Gavin Ferreira.

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