Hockey India allowed to send team for Asian Games

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court Friday permitted Hockey India to send the Indian hockey team for the Guangzhou Asian Games in China.

A bench of Justice R.V. Raveendran and Justice H.L. Gokhale said the arrangements made by its order of Aug 27 shall apply in regards to participation in the Asian Games being held in China next month. The Aug 27 order had permitted Hockey India to sponsor the Indian hockey team, both men’s and women’s, for the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

However, in the order, the court said that Hockey India would take into account any suggestion made by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

The court was told that names of the hockey players have been sent to the organising committee of the Asian Games and the same team as that which participated in Commonwealth Games is being sent.

In the meantime, the court asked Hockey India, Indian Hockey Federation and IOA to resolve their issues and come to some understanding.

However, before pronouncing the order, Justice Raveendran told the petitioner Hockey India: “You have lost the match. The tensions have subsided. What is the problem?”