President of Wardha District Hockey Association ( WDHA) and former MP Suresh Waghmare along with Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) administrator TN Sidhra and WDHA secretary Krishna Joshi met former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and urged him to save hockey in Vidarbha.
According to Waghmare the existence of VHA is in danger due to ‘One State One Association’ rule of the Indian Olympic Associaiton (IOA). He told Fadnavis that as many as 22 districts from Vidarbha, Marathwada and Khandesh are affiliated with VHA which has been functioning since 1959. The Maharashtra government had also allotted 3.80 acre land to VHA in 1960 on Amravati road and 2.05 acre land in Sadar area. The VHA has developed lush green ground on Amravati road and the association teams including sub-junior, junior and senior are continuously participating in the nationals.
The VHA also conduct coaching camp for all age categories players. Apart from it the association conducts sub-junior junior and senior hockey tournaments in which players from 22 districts participate. The players also get certificates that help them to secure bonus marks in HSC and SSC exams. On the basis of this certificate number of players get priority in government jobs.
Waghmare pointed out that in the year 1980 and 1985 the attempts were made to cancel the affiliation of VHA but due to the protest no further decision was taken. The Hockey India has given its affiliation to banks and academies then why they are giving step otherly treatment to Vidarbha only? questioned Waghmare.
He urged te ex-chief minister to discuss the matter with IOA president Narendra Batra and stay the decision of Hockey India so that the future of Vidarbha hockey players should not be ruined.