New Delhi, October 10 (IANS)| Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur has strongly criticized Hockey India’s decision to pull out of next year’s Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, saying the decision cannot be taken by the federation alone. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Union Sports Minister Thakur said that the government should have been consulted before announcing such a big decision.
“I think any federation should refrain from making such statements,” Thakur said. They should discuss this with the government first. This federation team is not going. It is the country team that goes for an event. I believe that Hockey India should consult the government and the sports department.
Hockey India recently confirmed the withdrawal of its men’s and women’s teams from next year’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games, citing COVID-19 concerns and the UK’s discriminatory quarantine rules for travelers from the country. In a letter to Indian Olympic Association (IAO) chief Narinder Batra, HI President Gyanandro Ningombam cited ‘discriminatory sanctions’ that are ‘biased against India’ as one of the reasons for the cancellation of the sporting event. .
The SI also argued that there is a gap of only 32 days between the Birmingham Games (from July 28 to August 8) and the Asian Games to be held in Hangzhou (from September 10 to 25). The Asian Games is a direct qualifier for the Paris Olympics to be held in 2024.