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Rivals accuse India team of using over-age players

Indian field hockey player Mandeep Anti, left, rounds Singaporean goalkeeper Maheswaran Thanagopal at the sixth Men’s Junior Asia Cup in Hyderabad, India, on Monday. PHOTO: AFP

Indian hockey was hit by allegations from rival coaches on Tuesday that several over-age players were being fielded by the hosts in the junior Asia Cup in Hyderabad.

Coaches for Singapore and Malaysia in the under-21 tournament accused Indian team officials of fielding at least six players who were too old — allegations quickly denied by the team selector.

“It has been happening for a couple of years,” Malaysian coach V. Muralidharan said.

“One of the players was registered for the Azlan Shah tournament in May this year as a 25-year-old. If he was 25 in May this year, how can he be 21 now?”

“We cannot make a complaint in the absence of any documentary proof, but we will request authorities to resolve this issue of fielding over-age players in international tournaments,” he said.

Muralidharan said it was “very disappointing that we are not playing on a level field.”

Singapore coach Chiow Chuan Lim accused India of repeatedly fielding over-age players, even in the junior World Cups.

South Africa’s Dale Steyn bowls against England during the first Test at Lord’s cricket ground in London last Friday. PHOTO: AFP

“It has been the case for over two, three years in World Cups and other events. The present Indian team is almost the same that played in Azlan Shah two months ago,” he said.

Indian selector Zafar Iqbal denied any wrongdoing.

“We have only tried to field the best possible team and we have done that strictly according to the rules,” Iqbal said. “Some of the players are nearing 21 and they may not be able to play in the Junior World Cup next year. We go strictly by documents.”

“One of the players was registered for the Azlan Shah tournament in May this year as a 25-year-old. If he was 25 in May this year, how can he be 21 now?” — V. Muralidharan, Malaysian field hockey coach

He admitted that some players were asked to compete at both the junior and senior levels, but said they were simply “extraordinary.”
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