NEW DELHI (AFP): India’s field hockey coach Ajay Bansal yesterday played down reports that Malaysia deliberately lost a recent international, saying his team had won fair and square.
Malaysian police are investigating allegations that India’s 2-1 win during the Azlan Shah tournament in Ipoh in May was fixed following online betting by some members of the Malaysian team. A newspaper said earlier this week that up to six Malaysian players wagered between 1,000 ringgit (313 dollars) and 10,000 ringgit on the outcome of match.
Bansal, whose young Indian team went on to play the final, said he was surprised at the allegations and refused to believe hockey matches could be fixed. “When we played Malaysia, they had already lost three games and it was expected we would win the match,” Bansal told local media.
“It was a well-contested match and I never felt then that some of their players were under-performing. I don’t think anybody would play to lose a hockey match for the sake of money,” he added. Indian field hockey official Aslam Sher Khan said he had not been contacted by either the International Hockey Federation (FIH) or the Malaysian authorities in regard to the allegations.
“We have got nothing to do with it,” said Khan. “It is quite clear that India or Indian players are (in) no way involved with whatever the allegations are. “It is an internal matter of Malaysian hockey and I believe an inquiry has been ordered. I sincerely hope the truth comes out.”
The match, played on May 17, saw Malaysia miss several scoring chances after India led 2-0 by the 15th minute, the second goal coming through a penalty stroke.The Malaysians scored their only goal in the final seconds of the match with a penalty corner.
The Malaysian Hockey Federation lodged a police complaint following a series of news reports which said some national hockey players were involved in match-fixing, gambling and money-lending activities.This is not the first time an India-Malaysia hockey match has come under the scanner.
During the 1996 Olympic qualifiers in Barcelona, Canada cried foul after their hopes for a berth at the Atlanta Games were dashed when India and Malaysia split points in a key game. The draw helped Malaysia edge out Canada, whose official complaint to the FIH was rejected.
India, eight-time Olympic champions, failed to qualify for this year’s Olympics for the first time. Malaysia also did not make the grade. -- AFP
