PHF interim prez removes selectors, coaches; appoints new committee
Lahore, Feb 23: The interim president of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has removed the selectors and coaching staff of the national team and appointed a professional development committee after the recent changes in the country’s sport. The controversy surrounding the men’s team’s recent tour of Australia for the FIH Pro League exposed deep systemic mismanagement within the PHF. Upon arriving in Canberra, the national team was denied entry to their hotel because unpaid bills had led to the cancellation of their bookings, and players were reportedly left roaming the streets for several hours with their luggage. Muhuydin Wani, a federal secretary, has now approved the formation of a committee which will be jointly headed by two former hockey stars – Islahuddin Siddiqui and Hasan Sardar. A spokesperson of the PHF said the committee was formed to bring about technical excellence in Pakistan hockey administration and team and to introduce more professionalism in the game in the country. The two Olympians will oversee the national team selection, specialised training protocols, and establish rigorous benchmarks for coaches and players. Islahuddin and Sardar will also co-chair a Professional Advisory Committee, which will be responsible for long-term management selection, with additional members to be appointed in consultation with the two. (PTI)
Gujarat judoka Majgul secures CWG, Asian Games berths
Ahmedabad, Feb 23: Gujarat’s Rohit Majgul (-66kg) has secured qualification for the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games to be held later this year after impressive performances in the judo selection trials held in New Delhi. In the best of the three final, Majgul took on Haryana’s Garvit and their decisive bout went into golden score, where the Gujarat judoka executed an O Goshi to score a waza-ari and claim a victory. Majgul, who is from a tribal village named Talala in Gir Somnath district, had remained unbeaten in the last two senior nationals. He has been training at the Vijayi Bharat Foundation in Godhavi for nearly four years. O Goshi is a throwing technique in which the attacker loads the opponent onto the hip and rotates them forward to the mat, while Waza-ari is awarded when an opponent lands largely on their back (PTI)
Senior Nationals Kabaddi C’ship to start today
Vadodara, Feb 23: As many as 31 teams from across the country with around 400 players will be competing when the 72nd Senior Nationals Men’s Kabaddi Championship is held at the Sama Indoor Complex here from February 24 to 27. Organised under the aegis of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), the tournament will feature a mix of seasoned veterans as well as rising stars. Players who performed exceptionally in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 will also be seen in action. Among the standout names to watch are the top three raiders from PKL Season 12 – Ayan Lohchab (Haryana), Devank Dalal and Bharat Hooda (Services). Ashu Malik, who led Dabang Delhi to a title-winning campaign last season, will represent Railways, while Arjun Deshwal will once again shoulder leadership duties as he leads Uttar Pradesh. The tournament will also put spotlight on emerging talents such as Deepak Sankar (Tamil Nadu), who recorded 64 tackle points for the Bengaluru Bulls and was named the New Young Player of the Season in PKL 12. The tournament will also serve as a vital platform for elite and emerging players, with consistent performances often paving the way for selection into national camps, the Indian team and professional leagues. (PTI)
