Desi Cartman Posted February 9, 2010 Posted February 9, 2010 NEW DELHI: Basketball teams which went to Varanasi to compete in the All India Inter University championship have alleged that they were forced to forfeit their matches against the hosts due to intimidation by armed goons who threatened to kill if they didn't lose. The Delhi University basketball team, North Zone champions and one of the teams expected to win the all India tourney being organized at the Banaras Hindu University from January 27 to February 1 quit their semifinal against the host team after the third quarter, amid continuous threats and unfair play. Harish Dahiya, captain of the DU team, told TOI that the intimidation was unrelenting. "We would be practicing at night and suddenly the floodlights would go off and then they would throw bombs at us. Another time, they pointed guns to our faces and told us to lose the match or face the consequences," he said. And it wasn't just the DU sqaud who had this sorry tale to share. Teams from Jaipur, Chennai and Pune also complained of having their players threatened at gunpoint. The Satyabhama University team from Chennai is considering going to court on charges of criminal intimidation. "It was total goondaraaj at BHU and it was being organized and encouraged by BHU officials themselves. There were two local teams from Varanasi and the officials wanted both to advance to the final. They threatened and manipulated every team that they played against," alleged Delhi University team manager and SAI coach Ajay Kumar Singh. BHU won the title after defeating MG Kashi Vidyapith. "The BHU team couldn't even win a single round and here it has won an all-India event! It's wrong when players are threatened and harmed, and sports takes a backseat to politics," Ajay Kumar said. The Rajasthan University team too forfeited their match. "We had to leave the quarterfinal against BHU midway because they were assaulting and threatening my players on court. They even put a pistol to the head of one of the boys. Our vice-chancellor has written a formal complaint," said Bharat, coach of the Jaipur-based team. Understandably shaken, the Delhi players conveyed their fears to the BHU authorities and also to All India Universities under-secretary Gurdeep Singh. But no action followed. Singh was defensive when questioned by TOI. "It's not my job to look into such matters. I was in Varanasi in a personal capacity," was his first reaction. When poked further, he said, "I got a call from the Delhi University sports council director, Mrs Pathak, and rushed to the hostel alongwith Vidyasagar, the organizing committee secretary and the police. I spoke to the boys and they told me that they had received threats. I asked them to write to the authorities concerned. If they still have a complaint to make they should write to us with fees of Rs 1,000 as per the rules." Vidyasagar washed his hands of the mess saying he hadn't received any complaint and neither was he aware of any such incident. He went on to insinuate that he had been forewarned by Singh that the Delhi team would "cook up" such charges. "The Delhi boys never looked like they were serious about playing. Gurdeep Singh had told me that these boys would go to the media and say things. The boys were completely out of hand. Gurdeep even had a chat with them regarding their attitude. Yes I agree, the play on the court was aggressive but yeh competition ka zamana hai. Even I've had a katta pointed at me but I never left the match midway. A sportsperson doesn't do that. The team left without informing anyone. That was just wrong," said Vidyasagar's take. Vidyasagar is also the sports secretary at BHU.
Zap_Brannigan Posted February 9, 2010 Posted February 9, 2010 WTF is this ****?? Next stop Banana Republic!
Malcolm Merlyn Posted February 9, 2010 Posted February 9, 2010 BHU and Vidyapeeth are like this,Spccly vidyapeeth is the breeding grounds of goons.
Guest Gunner Posted February 9, 2010 Posted February 9, 2010 Well done. We are really going great guns in India these days.
Desi Cartman Posted February 9, 2010 Author Posted February 9, 2010 maybe we should use this strategy in the test series against SAF :hehe: :((
flamy Posted February 9, 2010 Posted February 9, 2010 maybe we should use this strategy in the test series against SAF :hehe: :(( :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: :((
mhr123 Posted February 10, 2010 Posted February 10, 2010 Desi from were did u got this info.. I didnt find on TOI website..
Clarke Posted February 10, 2010 Posted February 10, 2010 Desi from were did u got this info.. I didnt find on TOI website.. http://maillogout.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/basketball/Players-threatened-with-guns-officials-look-the-other-way/articleshow/5550124.cms
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