Banned Indian hockey midfielder Gurbaj Singh moves court

EXPERIENCED MIFDFIELDER Gurbaj Singh has decided to move court against the nine-month ban imposed on him by Hockey India (HI) for promoting indiscipline in the national team.

The 27-year-old was banned by the HI's displinary committee last month for allegedly indulging in groupism and creating disharmony within the Indian team. 

The charges were levelled against him by former Indian assistant coach Jude Felix in a report submitted after the World League semi-finals in Antwerp earlier this year.

The right winger had an option to lodge an appeal before the disclinary committee on September 18 -- which he did. 

But the committee, which also included HI president Narinder Batra, was not convinced of Gurbaj's argument and decided against revoking or reducing the ban.

"I have decided to go to court since the charges put on me are completely baseless," Gurbaj said on Friday as reported in IANS. 

"All these allegations of misbehaviour and groupism are pre-planned and there is absolutely no truth in that. I have complete faith in the judicial system of my country, and therefore I have decided to take this matter to the court of law," he added.

The ban means that Gurbaj will miss the 2016 Hockey India League (HIL) and the Hockey World League (HWL) finals in December this year, which will negatively affect his chances of returning to the national squad for the Rio Olympics next year.

Gurbaj has already served a month and a half of the ban.