The Hindu : Sport / Hockey : Organisers expel BSF from Bombay Gold Cup

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Saturday, Apr 30, 2005

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Organisers expel BSF from Bombay Gold Cup

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Border Security Force was expelled from the 43rd All-India Bombay Gold Cup tournament following a protest by Central Railway that a player M. Singh, who played for Chandigarh XI in a first round match against SAI (Kandivali) on April 25, figured in the BSF team it lost 0-1 to in a third round match on Friday.

According to the Bombay Hockey Association (BHA) Secretary, Cdr. Kehar Singh, and Tournament Director, Satinder Singh Walia, Southern Railway, which lost to BSF on Thursday, too had lodged a verbal protest.

"But in the absence of a written protest and proof we could not move on the matter. But today we had photo evidence on the basis of which we carried out an immediate investigation and disqualified BSF from the tournament and awarded the match to Central Railway,'' said Mr. Walia.

The BHA has informed the Indian Hockey Federation Secretary, Jothikumaran, of its decision. A BHA release said: "After careful observation of the photographs taken on the opening day, it has been proved beyond any doubt that the said M. Singh (No. 29) had played for both the teams as alleged.

"On further verification, the player did not come out with the truth and refused to recognise his own photograph and said that it was his younger brother, which is contrary to the facts and hence the BSF XI stands scratched from the tournament and the match awarded to Central Railway.''

"We called him (M. Singh) and showed him (dressed in Chandigarh XI colours) the photographs of being introduced to the Chief Guest on the April 25 and on April 28. He did not play the match today, but was on the bench,'' said Mr. Walia.

BSF beat Central Railway 1-0 in the third match of the day. Earlier, Uttar Pradesh XI beat Indian Navy 3-1 and All India Customs beat BPCL 1-0. Ravi Bharti (2) and Vivek scored for U.P. while Sikander Singh found the net for Navy.

In the last contest of the day, Punjab Police thrashed Indian Overseas Bank 6-0. Sarabjit Singh (2), Ranjodh Singh (2), Amit Sandhu and Jasbir Singh scored for BSF.

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