Sports Minister Anurag Thakur on Sunday came hard on Hockey India for unilaterally deciding to pull out of next year바카라s Birmingham Commonwealth Games, saying the national federation is bound to consult with the government before taking any such step. (More Hocket News)
Thakur said being the main financier of Olympic sports in the country, the government has every right to take call on matters of national representation. 바카라I think any federation should refrain from giving such statements and discuss with the government first because it바카라s just not federation바카라s team, its national team,바카라 he told reporters.
바카라In a country of 130 crore population, there are not just 18 players to represent country. It (CWG) is a global event I feel that they (Hockey India) should engage with government and concerned department. The decision will be taken by the government.바카라
ALSO READ: India withdraw from 2022 Birmingham CWG
Thakur바카라s strong statement came after Hockey India on Tuesday pulled out of 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, citing COVID-19 concerns and UK바카라s discriminatory quarantine rules for travellers from the country.
HI also reasoned that there is only a 32-day window available between the Birmingham CWG (July 28-August 8) and the Asian Games (September 10-25) in Hangzhou, which is a direct qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The minister said there is no dearth of hockey talent in the country and citing the example of cricket added that playing back-to-back tournaments are nothing new for professional sportspersons.
바카라There is no shortage of talent in hockey in India. If you see cricket, the IPL is going on and then there is the World Cup. If cricketers can play two tournaments back-to-back, then why can바카라t players from other sports.
바카라I can understand Asian Games is being prioritised and I am not going into this, I am just saying where the Indian team will be playing just doesn바카라t lie with the federation, it lies with the government also,바카라 Thakur said.
Meanwhile, Thakur said the meeting of the selection committee for this year바카라s National Sports Awards will be held in the next 10 days time.
바카라The selection committee will meet in the next 10 days where they will decide who all will be given awards this year and after taking time from the President of India, the awards will be conferred,바카라 he said.
