Hockey India (HI) has insisted that Belgium’s public outrage over Indians profitable the FIH annual award is nothing in need of “racial discrimination” and the world physique ought to launch an intensive investigation into the matter.
In a strongly-worded letter to International Hockey Federation (FIH) CEO Thierry Weil, HI President Gyanandro Ningombam stated Belgium and its gamers have been questioning the voting system and have been disrespectful to the Indian winners and undermining their achievements. Were have been
“The public statement of displeasure at the announcement of the Indian winners is highly insulting and not in the spirit of the game and the spirit of the game of hockey,” Ningombam wrote within the letter.
“The objections on behalf of the Belgian Federation to the 2021 winners should be carefully examined by the FIH Governance Panel, which is considered by me to be a case of discrimination/racial discrimination.”
Ningombam stated that Indian gamers and coaches have legitimately gained elections in all classes typically, however the achievement has been fully undermined by damaging feedback from fellow athletes and nationwide associations.
“…how humiliating, mentally painful and humiliating this is for Indian athletes and coaches. Hockey India cannot allow the efforts and achievements of Indian athletes and coaches to be questioned in this manner…,” he stated.
“Is it fair that the hard work and efforts of these athletes are being scrutinized and put through such harassment and mental intimidation?” He requested.
India swept the FIH’s annual awards on 6 October, claiming all the highest honors primarily based on a voting system that was lambasted as a “failure” by males’s Olympic champions Belgium, with the FIH saying Inspired that he would attempt to discover out why some unions didn’t achieve this. Cast your vote
Five Indian gamers and head coaches from each males’s and girls’s groups claimed high honors in numerous classes after garnering most votes in Tokyo. The males’s hockey workforce gained the bronze medal on the Tokyo Olympics for the primary time in 41 years, whereas the ladies’s facet completed an unprecedented fourth within the showpiece.
The HI president requested Weil to request the Belgian federation to difficulty an official public apology for the “derogatory” feedback on the achievements of Indian gamers and coaches on social media.
“If not, refer this matter to the FIH Governance Panel for a thorough investigation into what constitutes discrimination/racial discrimination against Indian athletes and coaches.”
After Belgium questioned the voting system, the FIH reported that Indian award winners topped every voting group, together with nationwide associations and the media.
It additionally stated that solely 19 federations of the 42-strong European bloc solid their vote, in comparison with 29 of 33 in Asia.
The votes of the nationwide associations – represented by their respective captains and coaches – accounted for 50 p.c of the full outcome, whereas followers and gamers (25 p.c) in addition to the media (25 p.c) made up the opposite half.
“Hockey India made nice efforts to make sure good participation in all classes from our nation and now publicly felt punished for the total participation and assist of the Indian nominees.
“It is disappointing that the Belgian Federation would select to query the voting system and the legitimacy of the Indian winners, then really take the accountability of not encouraging extra voting and supporting their athletes.
“The crux of the matter is that these national federations need to introspect from the start to see the true level of their participation and interest, rather than questioning the system once the results are declared in their favour.”
He additionally identified that the Belgian federation had achieved a winner after the 2016 Rio Olympics, though they completed second and that the gold medal profitable Argentine workforce didn’t obtain a single award.
“All the awards in men (after the 2016 Olympics) went to Belgium, then there was no question of the voting system,” he stated.
Ningombam additionally stated, “It is shameful that the European Hockey Federation is silent and not taking responsibility for the lack of proactiveness and seriousness in voting by its member federations, while blaming its athletes and member federations for diluting the results and blaming the winners.” Allows to point out disrespect”.
Weil stated on Monday that the FIH would arrange a activity power to work on its international award choice course of, however burdened that winners don’t separate with out followers’ votes.
.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
