Bhopal alleges IHF bias in selection

Alleging bias and neglect of players from Madhya Pradesh in the selection of the national hockey team for Athens, the Bhopal Hockey Association challenged the Indian Hockey Federation to hold a match between Bhopal XI and players attending Olympic camp to test its selection.

"We challenge them (selectors) to hold a match with Bhopal XI anywhere to test their selection," Bhopal Hockey Association secretary I U Rehman said at a press conference at Aishbag stadium in Bhopal on Wednesday.

"IHF president K P S Gill does not like players from Bhopal because they hail from a particular community," Rehman alleged, adding majority of players selected for the Olympics hail from three states -- Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Orissa.

Instead of fit players of Bhopal like Altaf-ur-Rahman, Sameer Dad, Irshad Ali, Fazan-ur-Rehman and Amjad Khan, the IHF has offered "handicapped players from Punjab an opportunity", he alleged.