Even as the prestigious Sepaktakraw World Super Series begins here tomorrow, the Indian team was hit by a controversy today with four members being expelled by their state federation for taking part in the tournament without informing it.
Akash Singh in the men's team and Kh Bijeta, Kh Omita and O Chaoba in the women's team have been expelled for 10 years by All Manipur Sepak Takraw Association (AMSTA) for taking part in the national camp without informing their state unit.
Akash and Chaoba are trainees at SAI Regional Centre in Imphal while Bijeta and Omita play for IMSUC club.
"We have decided to expel them for 10 years for taking part in the national camp without informing us," AMSTA president Kh Dorendra told PTI from Imphal.
Dorendra is also a deputy president of the Sepak Takraw Federation of India and the development points to a division in the STFI.
"We (AMSTA) have wanted a selection trial for the ISTAF World Super Series first leg in Delhi and second leg in Thailand (September 26-29) and also Kings Cup to be held in Thailand (from September 16-22) so that the country can have the best players to prepare for 2014 Asian Games," he said.
"We wrote a letter regarding this to STFI Secretary after a decision by AMSTA executive committee but there was no trial and the team was selected without trial. Akash, Bijeta, Omita and Chaoba took part in the camp which began in Delhi from August 11 without informing us and so AMSTA decided to expel them for 10 years," he added.
STFI Secretary Yogender Singh Dahiya on his part said that the players were selected from among the national campers who were picked after a selection trial during the 23rd Senior Nationals in November last year.
