skip to main |
skip to sidebar
By Jugjet Singhjugjet@nstp.com.myTHE International Hockey Federation (FIH) have asked Malaysian Hockey Confederation Secretary General Maninderjit Singh to apologise to them for sending them an e-mail criticising on Spain’s back-door qualification to the Olympics.
Maninderjit had written to the FIH asking for an explanation after reports, online and on television, had said that since South Africa had failed to reached their federation’s target of reaching the final of the Champions Challenge I, they will forfeit their Olympic ticket and play in the Japan Qualifier.
The reports had said that South Africa’s African Nation’s Olympic ticket will now be given to the highest ranked Qualifier, which is Spain.
Maninderjit was peeved with the swap between South Africa and Spain, and had written a strongly worded e-mail to the FIH after India and Belgium qualified for the Champions Challenge I final.
“This scenario is simply mind boggling, as this private deal was never communicated or circulated to all teams who will be playing in the Olympic Qualifiers in India, Ireland and Japan,” said Maninderjit Singh in an earlier Timesport article.
However, the e-mail from Maninderjit to the FIH also read: “And I believe that FIH should be hard on the reasoning for Spain to get this berth and it is also that we all know that the current FIH President is from Spain. More so, FIH have to be more vigilant with the approach on such matter.”
The FIH CEO Kelly Fairweather wrote an e-mail to Maninderjit Singh stating: “The reference in your e-mail to our president is completely unacceptable. I trust that with time to reflect you will understand how serious the implications carried by your comments are.
“I ask that you immediately contact the president by e-mail to apologise for your comments and that you unconditionally withdraw them from the public arena.
“The immediacy and extent of your apology and retraction will inform the nature of any further action to be taken by the FIH.
“For your information, at the time of writing no decision has been taken with regards to any replacement for South Africa as the FIH is following the process outlined in the Qualification system.
“It is really unfortunate that you have either deliberately chosen to ignore the aforementioned Qualification system ot have written what you have in total ignorance of the published system.”
When contacted by Timesport, Manindersjit said he has written an apology to the FIH and considers the matter closed.
HISTORIC, Malaysian Sikh Sportswriters (from left) Devinder Singh (New Straits Times), Satwant Singh Dhaliwal (http://www.malaysianhockey.blogspot.com), Haresh Singh Deol (Malay Mail), Ajitpal Singh (New Straits Times), Jugjet Singh (New Straits Times), Aftar Singh (TheStar).
The Sikh sports chaps attended Ajitpal Singh's wedding yeaterday. He was born in 1975 and named after India skipper Ajitpal, who lifted the 1975 World Cup Trophy in Malaysia.
Ajitpal's father Harnek was a 1975 World Cup trainee for Malaysia.
By Kongster
MY colleague, Ajitpal Singh, is very excited to be tying the knot tomorrow. But he didn't see the trouble coming -- which was tying his turban, known as the dastaar.
Ajitpal's turban woe came to light when I asked Jugjet Singh, another NST employee, why he was in a hurry to leave the office the other day.
Jugjet said he had to rush to Ajitpal's house in PJ to help him wear his maroon turban for the biggest day of his life.
I got excited too, and soon I was phoning up Ajitpal and demanding to know what's happening.
"What's the problem with your wedding?" I asked.
"I'm having a headache, tying my wedding turban," admitted Ajitpal who was wrestling with a piece of cloth over his head all day.
Thinking it was as easy as the shampoo girl making a turban of my head with a towel in the salon, I said: "Is it really that difficult? Haven't you worn a turban in your life before?"
Ajitpal replied: "I'm not a turban man... not even when I was a boy."
"So, you're the modern type, the 'no turban' urban Singh," I quipped.
"Yes, you can say so," said Ajitpal who revealed that he called in four friends to help him put on his headgear.
The four who answered Ajitpal's SOS were Satwant Singh, a media consultant; Aftar Singh, a hockey umpire; Surjit Singh, and Jugjet.
Ajitpal has good reason to be worried about his turban after it turned out to be a "disaster", in his own words, during his engagement to his beloved Baljit Kaur, a secretary, in February.
"Somebody tied the turban for me but it was not well done and looked really flat. It should be sharp and pointed in front of my head," said Ajitpal.
With the turban as his crown, Ajitpal wants to be as regal as the Maharajah of Punjab when he becomes "Raja Sehari" (king for a day) tomorrow.
Tying a turban, with its twists and turns in many variations, I am told, is an art.
It is a daily ritual that takes an average of 25 minutes to wrap one's head. Usually, a Sikh wears a turban in the fashion as taught by his father.
To the seasoned turban wearer, it is always easier for one to wrap a piece of cloth around his own head than someone else doing it for him. But for the inexperienced Ajitpal, it seems to be the hardest task in the world.
But it is all worth the trouble for Ajitpal is going to have a lovely and caring wife, whom he first met on Jalan Cyber through Facebook.
The NST wishes Ajitpal and Baljit a blessed and happy marriage.
By Jugjet Singh
