Young Thackeray says Mumbai university's All-India hockey title proves that Sena's interference ensured talented, deserving players were picked
Young Thackeray says Mumbai university's All-India hockey title proves that Sena's interference ensured talented, deserving players were picked
Aditya Thackeray, leader of Shiv Sena's youth wing, Yuva Sena said the players and members of the Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena (BVS), the Sena's student wing, stand vindicated for what transpired over a week ago.
Members of the city varsity team approached Aditya's party crying foul over the selection matters. The boys claimed five players from outside Mumbai were being thrust into the team at the expense of city boys.
Subsequently, some BVS members barged into a selection committee meeting and ensured three of the five players were replaced with Mumbai boys. Aditya however refutes the allegation that his men interfered to add fuel to the already burning issue of "outsiders" in Mumbai. "We only wanted to ensure that the players selected were deserving. In fact, we did not even bother to find out from which part of the country or of what religion were the boys, who were finally picked. However, today we stand vindicated because Mumbai University winning the hockey title proves that their players are a deserving lot," Aditya told MiD DAY yesterday.
In the final on Sunday, Mumbai rallied from a goal down to beat Kurukshetra University, Haryana 2-1 with a goal each from Dharmendra Antil and Pradeep Kumar after Malak Singh drew first blood for the visitors. Mumbai skipper Yuvraj Valmiki can't thank Aditya enough. "According to a few senior players, Mumbai University have won the all-India title after a gap of 37 years.
"There was no way we could have done it with the team that was picked initially. We are powerless against a system that promotes influential people. However, thanks to young leaders like Aditya, deserving players will not be left out," said Valmiki, a potential India player, who is out of the reckoning due to reasons best known to the selectors.
"I saw the final and Yuvraj was easily the best player. He's definitely an Indian probable and we will do everything we can to help him get his due," said Aditya.
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