KOCHI: Two days before it was to end, the National Cycle Polo Championship was called off without any matches being played over tensions between two warring sports factions of the state.
The Cycle Polo Federation of India (CPFI) decided to call off the event - which began on September 29 and was to end on October 2 - saying they could not risk the safety of the players.
According to sources in CPFI, Kerala Cycle Polo Association (KCPA) a breakaway faction that enjoys patronage of the State Sports Council, flouted the rules of the apex sports body by fielding teams on their own in the event and trespassing the Eloor FACT stadium, the venue of the event, when they were barred from competing.
“The Cycle Polo Association of Kerala is our state affiliate and are conducting the nationals. So only they have the right to field a team. Unfortunately, the rival faction KCPA approached the court and obtained a favourable court order, which allowed them to compete in the event. However, we were not informed about this,” said CPFI Assistant Secretary Sunayana Mishra.She added that teams from the breakaway faction arrived at the ground and prevented the genuine Kerala side - the team from Cycle Polo Association of Kerala - from entering the ground.
“Today, we filed an appeal before the Kerala High Court seeking its intervention. However, before its verdict was out, police asked the players to vacate the ground. The loudspeakers and arches placed for publicity were also removed, while the rival group prevented players from practising in the ground,” she stated.“Since we fear the players’ safety, we decided to postpone the event,” she said.The venue and new date of the nationals would be decided in the annual general body meeting (AGM) scheduled on Saturday. Meanwhile, KCPA maintained that the organisers defied the court’s orders. “They defied the court order and fled the scene after abandoning the event. This act is unacceptable,” said a KCPA office-bearer.