SGFI officials making merry; players at receiving end

CHANDIGARH, July 20: Due to callous attitude of the officials, the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), which is the sole agency at t...

CHANDIGARH, July 20: Due to callous attitude of the officials, the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), which is the sole agency at the grass-root level to promote sports, seems to be drifting away from their main aim of promoting sports. A few budding players who were medal winners in the SGFI meet held in 1997-98 session, have been running from pillar to post to procure their certificates.

More than one-year has passed and players from Chandigarh who got bronze medal in badminton event in under-19 boys, under-14 boys and girls categories in the National School Games held at Patiala under the aegis of Punjab Education Department in coordination of the SGFI, have left no stone unturned to get certificates. Till now all their pleas have fallen on deaf ears as officials are passing the on buck.

PS Chabbra, who was recently elected SGFI secretary (the matter is pending in the court about the SGFI election), and is also sports organiser of the Punjab Education Department, was not available for comments. “He is on a long leave,” informed an official of the Punjab Education Department.

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When some players approached the officials of the Punjab Education Department, they were informed that the certificates have been given for printing.

Why the certificates (third place) printed earlier were not given to the players? The officials blame each other.

BD Gandhi, who was then secretary, SGFI, said that he had given all the certificates to the organisers of the meet. “It is the responsibility of the organisers to distribute the certificates. Though the officials are blaming each other, the players are at the receiving end. “Had I got my certificate, I could have applied for scholarship,” said a disappointed shuttler who was one of the members of the under-19 team.

NC Puri, a senior Sports Authority of India (SAI) badminton coach, who was deputed coach with the team was also not available for his comments.

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The under-14 boys team was represented by Akash Sethi, Puneet Bansal, Mohit Paras and Pankaj Nathani. Mala Gaba, Rachna Sethi, Mehak Sethi and Harleen Kaur comprised under-14 girls team.

The under-19 boys team consisted of Vivek Sharma, Deepak Sidhu, Pankaj Dutta, Naresh Kundu and Dhanajay.

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