Manipur hockey participant suspended for alleged age fraud

In 2019, a 17-year-old hockey participant represented Manipur within the Junior National Championship, meant for under-21 gamers.
Last week the identical participant represented the state within the Under-17 class on the sub-junior nationals in Jind, Haryana.
As per his Aadhar card data submitted as a part of a grievance to Hockey India by Maharashtra, which misplaced 2-4 to Manipur within the group stage on March 18, the participant was 20 (date of start: February 2, 2001) when he performed the Under-17 event.
On March 19, Hockey India suspended the participant, for violating their Code of Conduct associated to age fraud, from the sub-junior nationals. The participant, who was allegedly overaged, scored all 4 targets for Manipur within the sport in opposition to Maharashtra.

Take a have a look at at the moment’s outcomes from the eleventh Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2021. 🏑#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/AVGrMksOBx
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 18, 2021
That win helped Manipur enter the semifinals, the place they may play Haryana on Wednesday. Maharashtra obtained eradicated.
Maharashtra additionally demanded that every one targets scored by the participant be nullified.
“The boy has scored all 4 goals against my team which we lost 4-2. His not being on the field would have given us the momentum to win,” the group wrote in its protest letter.
However, regardless that the participant was suspended, Hockey India didn’t cancel the targets he scored so Manipur’s wins had been upheld.
In a letter, Hockey India’s technical delegate Sonia Bhatla stated they suspended the participant after scrutinising his previous document. “(sic) As per the communication received from Hockey India, after scrutinising the records on the Hockey India member unit portal and with that of the earlier records it has been stated that the player has breached Hockey India Code of Conduct,” Bhatla wrote. “Hence the team player of Manipur Hockey… stands permanently suspended from further participation in the Hockey India Sub Junior Men’s National Championship 2021.”
With an intention to curb rampant age fraud, Hockey India launched the member unit portal in 2019, the place knowledge of all gamers together with their age proofs – particularly within the junior and sub-junior classes – needs to be uploaded.
“In compliance with the National Sports Development Code 2011 on Prevention of Age Fraud, Hockey India has a policy on Age Fraud and provision of issuance of Identity Cards to all the registered players of the Hockey India Member Units,” the federation states on its web site.

Here are some moments captured from at the moment’s matches of eleventh Hockey India Sub Junior Men National Championship 2021. 🏑#IndiaKaGame pic.twitter.com/taQdwJBHZO
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 18, 2021
However, a coach whose group was part of the sub-junior nationals stated the Manipur gamers’ case confirmed the system isn’t foolproof.
“The player’s documents were uploaded and accepted for sub-junior nations even though he has played a tournament for under-21 players in 2019. It shows a lot more needs to be done to tackle the problem of age fraud,” the coach stated.
According to knowledge obtainable on Hockey India’s web site, the Manipur participant who was suspended performed 4 matches within the 2019 Junior National Championship and didn’t rating a single purpose. However, within the sub-junior nationals, he scored eight targets – 4 every in opposition to Maharashtra and Gujarat – earlier than getting suspended.
Hockey India president Gyanendro Ningombam, who’s from Manipur, didn’t reply to a questionnaire despatched to him. “President is busy today,” Hockey India stated.
Gravel floor
Age fraud isn’t the one situation groups are complaining about throughout the sub-junior nationals. Several groups have expressed issues over Hockey India’s determination to conduct the event – its premier occasion for the under-17 age group – on a gravel floor.
Teams complained that they had been ready for the event on synthetic turf however upon reaching Jind, they realised that the matches could be performed on a soccer floor. “It’s not even grass. We are playing matches on gravel surfaces, which has brought down the quality and exposed players to injuries,” a coach stated.
Teams have additionally complained about poor services, together with a scarcity of water. Ningombam didn’t reply to questions on matches being performed on gravel as effectively.