Taking serious note of the news report that appeared in The New Indian Express and a few other national newspapers, the Andaman and Nicobar administration on Wednesday cancelled the affiliation of ‘All Andaman and Nicobar State Hockey Association’ with Andaman’s State Sports Council.
According to information provided, AANSHA allegedly took a ghost hockey team from Bangalore, and represented the Andaman & Nicobar islands, in the Indian National Hockey Championship in Pune.
“We have already taken all necessary action against the All Andaman and Nicobar State Hockey Association for taking a team to the National Championship without intimating us. We have cancelled their affiliation with the State Sports Council and have also written a letter to Hockey India to derecognize said Association,” Lucas Robert, Director of Andaman’s Sports and Youth Affairs Department told TNIE.
Robert said that as per the laws of Andaman’s State Sports Council there are certain norms for sending teams to National Level Tournament from the islands, which have been clearly violated by AANSHA.
“They have not intimated us about the participation. Hence as per norms and regulations, we have taken action against the association,” Robert added.
Meanwhile the news has also alarmed the law enforcing agencies as taking ghost teams to a national championship is fraud.
“We are ready to take action but for that to happen a complaint has to come from the side of administration or sports bodies,” Chinmoy Biswal, Superintendent of Police (CID) said.