NEW
DELHI: Welcoming the new move by the International Basketball
Federation (FIBA) to allow Sikh players to wear head coverings for a
two-year test period, the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) on
Wednesday said that it is sure the temporary ruling will soon become
permanent.
In a meeting held over the weekend,
basketball's world governing body announced that a two-year test
phase has been put into place in which exceptions for headgear will
be allowed under some circumstances.
"FIBA has
allowed players to wear head coverings in its 3-on-3 competitions
unless it presents a direct threat to the safety of players on the
court. After evaluation of the rule in 2015, it will be decided
whether it will become a permanent rule change post the 2016 Olympics
and we are sure that this will happen," BFI joint secretary
Ashok Rangeen said.
Though many Sikh organisations have
said that the latest ruling 'falls short' of expectations, the BFI
feels that the international body's intentions are in the right
place.
"The newly-elected board of FIBA has
addressed this issue in its first meeting and that in itself is a
signal that the officials are looking to help out the Sikh, Muslim
and orthodox Jew players, who are required a head covering while
playing the game," said Rangeen.
In a shocking move
during the fifth FIBA Asia Cup in Wuhan, China two Sikh players -
Amritpal Singh and Amjyot Singh - were asked to remove their turbans
before the start of the match on July 12. They were stopped from
entering the court moments before India were to open their campaign
against Japan.
In response many Sikh organisations ran a
successful "#LetSikhsPlay social media campaign", urging
the international basketball federation to not bar Sikh players due
to their religious head covering.
A number of renowned
personalities, including Daler Mehndi and Milkha Singh also supported
the campaign and urged FIBA to re-consider it's headgear policies and
now Indian Olympic Association (IOA) vice-president Tarlochan Singh
welcomes the new development.
"I welcome the new
move by FIBA. It comes as a great relief for all the Sikh players,
who are playing the game at the top level. I am very sure that FIBA
will allow Sikh's to wear the turbans and dastaars even after the
testing period," said Singh.
In the upcoming Asian
Games starting September 19, the Indian basketball team will take
court with the old rulings but Rangeen insists that the China
incident will not be repeated.
"In the Asian Games,
the Sikh players will continue to tie a 'juda' and then wrap it with
a piece of cloth because at the moment the no-headgear rule is in
place. But according to the Sikh community the head should not be
naked and that will not happen in Incheon," said
Rangeen.
"Many Islamic countries have also not
sending their teams to the Aisan Games due to their religious
restrictions. It is mandatory for Muslim girls to cover their legs
and cover their head with a scarf or 'hijab', so they are also
awaiting a relaxation in the current rules to allow them taking part
in international events. The new board was elected on August 29 and
in their first meeting on September 13 they raised this issue on
priority basis, so we should not question their intentions rather I
am positive about the new ruling," he added.
The
ad-hoc rule will be judged on three counts and the BFI is sure that
it will stand the test and become temporary after the 2016
Olympics.
"One, the headgear should not be
dangerous to the individual and to the players. Two, it should not be
a threat to anybody on court and three, the legal and technical
committee should pass the rules to make them permanent. And I am sure
that the 'pagdi' or any other headgear will pass with flying
colours," reiterated Rangeen.