Haryana HC gives Gurbaj Olympic hope; revokes Hockey India's ban
Gurbaj Singh has been provided a glimmer of hope of returning to the national team, in time for the Rio Olympics, as the Punjab and Haryana High Court, yesterday, rescinded the nine-month ban imposed by Hockey India on the 27-year-old midfielder.
Hockey India imposed this ban after former assistant coach Jude Felix accused Gurbaj of showing disrespect towards the Indian coaches in the national team, in a report he submitted to the governing body after the 2015 Hockey World League. Felix, who resigned earlier this year, had also accused the midfielder of creating rift with the team with group-ism and politics.
After missing out on the Hockey India League due to the ban, and being on the verge of missing out on the Rio Olympics, Gurbaj decided to move to the court with a petition.
In the verdict announced on Monday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has revoked this ban. The court has also asked the Hockey India Athletes Grievances Redressal Committee to review the punishment imposed on Gurbaj, within a week of receiving the court order, which they believe was immoderate.
“The petitioner is not found to have committed a serious misconduct in order to attract the punishment of ban,” Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain said.
Citing previous incidents where Hockey India has banned players, the Judge pointed out that the allegations brought against Gurbaj were not grievous enough to deserve a nine-month ban. He said, “It is found that bans were imposed in the past but in the circumstances where the players either have assaulted, had an altercation with the umpire and left the field and did not return back, found over-aged, used abusive language or showed utmost disrespect to the officials during the match.”
Gurbaj has refused to give up on his dream of representing the nation in the Rio Olympics. The former Air India player said, “I will continue training hard and hope I am selected for the team again. I am ready to play for India any time they need me”.
This is not the first time Gurbaj Singh has found himself in the midst of a crisis. Ever since making his debut for India in the 2006 Asian Games, the right-half has been in the news for his performance, both on-and-off the pitch.
During the 2012 London Olympics where the Indian team finished at the bottom of Pool B, the midfielder got involved in an argument with then coach Michael Nobbs, when he asked Gurbaj to play as a wide forward. The former Delhi Waveriders player refused to abide and was eventually dropped from the team.
After an exile of nearly 20 months, during which he performed brilliantly in domestic tournaments, Gurbaj returned to the national team– after tendering an apology to Hockey India. After his return, he soon asserted himself in the starting line-up and became India's most influential player, along with Sardar Singh.
His teammates have come out in support of Gurbaj after he received the ban, along with current Indian coach Roelant Oltmans, who had earlier played it down saying, "it wasn’t as big as it was made to be". It is clear that his team wants him back, and a good performance in next year's HIL could well see him return to the national squad.