THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: DPI officials who denied permission to the state girls' team to participate in 63rd National Roll Ball Tournament yielded after the intervention of the chief minister’s office. Around 24 girl students who were to represent the state in Under-19 and Under-17 categories were not sent to the tournament in Chhattisgarh. While boys' teams were selected during trials at Kannur, girls were not chosen citing that only girls from five districts showed up.
A state-level roll boll meet was held ahead of nationals with participation from more districts, and the parents had deposited Rs 8 lakh with DPI officials towards expenses of the girls at Chattisgarh. “The children had waited for hours at selection trial in Kannur. DPI officials said they wouldn't permit for them to attend the games. Following this, the CM office and his political secretary M.V. Jayarajan intervened. The DPI officials said that they would permit after we give an affidavit that we meet all our expenses,” said S. Sanakan, a parent.
The children were expected to board the train for Chattisgarh at 11 pm on Monday. They are about to get the confirmation. While normally games get Sports Council funding, roll ball does not owing to lack of consensus among various roll ball associations. Roll ball is similar to handball but played on inline roller skates. India is a member of International Roll Ball Federation (IRBF) that holds the world cup. The DPI officials, meanwhile, pointed that there was confusion over a court order that had said that selection should be made after ensuring participation from at least eight districts.
