NEW DELHI: Merely carrying the tri-colour in rucksack won't do, asserted Sports Minister MS Gill on Saturday while reiterating that only Indian passport holders would be allowed to represent the country in international events.
"It's no use if you carry the Indian flag in your rucksack. All you need to represent the country is an Indian passport in your hand and no other," Gill said.
"Only Indian passport holders would play for the country and India doesn't allow a second passport. So, if a player doesn't have an Indian passport, he or she cannot play for the country," the Minister added.
The Sports Ministry recently came out with the new policy that slams the door on the tennis trio of Prakash Amritraj, Shikha Uberoi and Sunitha Rao - all US citizens - and Gill said it is perfectly in accordance with the International Tennis Federation rules.
"I want the country to know that this is not a new policy made by the government. This is only a correct and honest application of the law. We have checked the ITF regulations and only then laid down the same here, which was not being followed earlier. I think the new policy is going to benefit the youth of the country," Gill said.
With Amritraj rendered ineligible to play for the country, Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna will spearhead India's challenge in singles against Chinese Taipei in their Asia-Oceania Group I tie next month, while old hands Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi would team up in doubles.
Gill said the country needed to find Paes and Bhupathi's successors and hoped the next generation players would be able to fill the gap when the veteran duo retires.
"Both Paes and Bhupathi are great players who served the country with distinction. The time is ripe to find players who can succeed them. I'm happy the way Devvarman came up and (Junior Australian Open champion) Yuki (Bhambri) emerged. Now they have added Sanam Singh to the Davis Cup squad as well," he said.
"Today I had a talk with (former Davis Cup captain) Jaideeep Mukherjea who is training 15 kids in Florida with the money we provided for 2010 Commonwealth Games preparation. I'm confident some of them would emerge as quality players," he said.
With Sunitha and Shikha rendered ineligible to represent the country and Sania Mirza skipping the Asia/Oceania Group I Fed Cup match citing an abdominal injury, the Indian eves lost all three round-robin matches in Perth, Australia.
"I noticed Sania did not play in the Fed Cup. Whatever the results, I'm happy that new girls got a chance," he said.
Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Carrying-tri-colour-is-not-enough-Gill/articleshow/4160166.cms
"It's no use if you carry the Indian flag in your rucksack. All you need to represent the country is an Indian passport in your hand and no other," Gill said.
"Only Indian passport holders would play for the country and India doesn't allow a second passport. So, if a player doesn't have an Indian passport, he or she cannot play for the country," the Minister added.
The Sports Ministry recently came out with the new policy that slams the door on the tennis trio of Prakash Amritraj, Shikha Uberoi and Sunitha Rao - all US citizens - and Gill said it is perfectly in accordance with the International Tennis Federation rules.
"I want the country to know that this is not a new policy made by the government. This is only a correct and honest application of the law. We have checked the ITF regulations and only then laid down the same here, which was not being followed earlier. I think the new policy is going to benefit the youth of the country," Gill said.
With Amritraj rendered ineligible to play for the country, Somdev Devvarman and Rohan Bopanna will spearhead India's challenge in singles against Chinese Taipei in their Asia-Oceania Group I tie next month, while old hands Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi would team up in doubles.
Gill said the country needed to find Paes and Bhupathi's successors and hoped the next generation players would be able to fill the gap when the veteran duo retires.
"Both Paes and Bhupathi are great players who served the country with distinction. The time is ripe to find players who can succeed them. I'm happy the way Devvarman came up and (Junior Australian Open champion) Yuki (Bhambri) emerged. Now they have added Sanam Singh to the Davis Cup squad as well," he said.
"Today I had a talk with (former Davis Cup captain) Jaideeep Mukherjea who is training 15 kids in Florida with the money we provided for 2010 Commonwealth Games preparation. I'm confident some of them would emerge as quality players," he said.
With Sunitha and Shikha rendered ineligible to represent the country and Sania Mirza skipping the Asia/Oceania Group I Fed Cup match citing an abdominal injury, the Indian eves lost all three round-robin matches in Perth, Australia.
"I noticed Sania did not play in the Fed Cup. Whatever the results, I'm happy that new girls got a chance," he said.
Source:http://sports.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Carrying-tri-colour-is-not-enough-Gill/articleshow/4160166.cms
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