Ajmer : Ajmer: In the National Subjunior Girls Hockey Championship being played in Telangana, Rajasthan team has already faced a shameful defeat in the first match. The defeat of the state team has widened the plight of sports in the state and has also made the process of selection and training of teams questionable. The state team playing in the National also includes 6 players from Ajmer-based Women’s Hockey Academy. Whereas the officials of ‘Hockey Rajasthan’, which sent the team to the National Championship, link this defeat to the lack of sports resources and regular technical training in the state.
Lost the first match 11-0
In the very first match of the National Subjunior Girls Hockey Championship being played in Telangana from November 26 to December 6, Rajasthan suffered a crushing defeat against the UP team by a one-sided margin of 11-0 on Tuesday. The girls of Uttar Pradesh scored 11 consecutive goals one after the other on Rajasthan.
Claiming higher training throughout the year
The most shocking aspect of the defeat of Rajasthan team is that 6 players of the state’s only women’s hockey academy located in Ajmer are also playing in the team. The respective in-charges and trainers have been claiming to provide high quality training to the players in the academy throughout the year. Admission to the academy is also done at the level of State Sports Council. An annual budget of ten lakh rupees is also provided at the government level along with other facilities including sports kits for the players. Despite this, the 11-0 defeat has also raised questions about the training being given at the Women’s Hockey Academy. Hockey Rajasthan Secretary Arun Saraswat is also disappointed that despite having 6 academy players in the state team, not a single goal could be scored. Training in the academy is also given on Astro Turf only.
