Shivendra ban cut to 2 matches

New Delhi, March 2: The International Hockey Federation Tues-day reduced the three-match ban on Indian forward Shivendra Singh, for “deliberately” hitting a Pakistani player during the team’s World Cup opener here Sunday, to two games.

The FIH jury verdict means Shivendra had to miss Monday’s crucial Australia game and will also sit it out against Spain Thursday.
The FIH appeals committee ruled Shivendra had not deliberately tried to cause injury but said his action was reckless. Hockey India secretary-general Narinder Batra said he was disappointed at the FIH jury’s verdict as the foul was not intentional. “But we don’t have any option, and he will have to sit it out,” he said.
Tournament director Ken Read had said that Shivendra “deliberately” hit Fareed Ahmed by lifting his stick in the 39th minute of the match, which the hosts won 4-1, leaving the Pakistani player with a small cut above the eye.

Age Correspondent