Alleging bias and neglect of players from Madhya Pradesh in the selection of the national hockey team for Athens, the Bhopal Hockey Association challenged the Indian Hockey Federation to hold a match between Bhopal XI and players attending Olympic camp to test its selection.
"We challenge them (selectors) to hold a match with Bhopal XI anywhere to test their selection," Bhopal Hockey Association secretary I U Rehman said at a press conference at Aishbag stadium in Bhopal on Wednesday.
"IHF president K P S Gill does not like players from Bhopal because they hail from a particular community," Rehman alleged, adding majority of players selected for the Olympics hail from three states -- Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Orissa.
Instead of fit players of Bhopal like Altaf-ur-Rahman, Sameer Dad, Irshad Ali, Fazan-ur-Rehman and Amjad Khan, the IHF has offered "handicapped players from Punjab an opportunity", he alleged.
