National Sports Day A half hearten Celebration

National Sports Day A half hearten Celebration

Sports Council completes mere formality to celebrate National Sports Day

Yash Khajuria

JAMMU, Aug 30: In a glaring example of alleged step motherly treatment being adopted by the sports authorities towards hockey in J&K, the J&K State Sports Council which is already struggling to provide basic infrastructural facilities to its sportspersons could not even celebrated the birth anniversary of Indian hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand.

The occasion was the celebration of National Sports Day to mark the anniversary of none other than hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand which State Sports Council celebrated by garlanding the portrait of the legendary hockey player installed at K K Hakku Stadium for a mere formality.

It is pertinent to mention here that last year, the national sports day was celebrated at the same venue with much fanfare wherein the Sports Minister felicitated several veteran players. But this time, the authorities seemed to have forgotten to do the same.

“It is wise on part of the authorities to organise a friendly match or a tournament in the memory of the legendary sportsman of the country who was the undisputed king in the world of hockey”, said Balwinder Singh, president of J&K Hockey Association (JKHA).

This sort of deed by the State Sports Council is a matter of big dishonour as far as his contribution in the field of hockey is concerned.

When contacted to a senior official of the state sports council he said we are trying our best to sort out the differences between the hockey associations in the state, but it is not so easy to come out on any conclusion in a short span of time.