Unable to digest a third consecutive defeat on home ground, an irate fan of SGVP International school’s basketball team hurled a stone at a Delhi Public School, Bopal player shortly after an under-16 match on Thursday.
The player, identified as Aatish Shah, suffered a head injury and had to take three stitches to close the wound, sources told Mirror.
The incident took place at SGVP International (Chharodi), which was hosting the tournament being held for district level selection for school games. All further matches have been rescheduled and will be held at a different venue now, sources said.
DPS Bopal had defeated SGVP in the first round of under-19 tournament and even won the under-14 final. On Thursday, the team again defeated SGVP (12-10) in the first round of under-16 tournament, much to the chagrin of SGVP students.
Witnesses said the DPS players were being booed constantly by SGVP fans during Thursday’s match. Despite all the hooting, the DPS boys maintained their composure and won the match, they said.
“The attacker has to be an SGVP student since only students and officials conducting the matches were present at the venue,” said a witness on condition of anonymity.
“SGVP fans created a furore after losing the match. Just when DPS players were leaving the court, somebody from crowd hurled a stone at them. One player was injured and immediately taken for emergency medical treatment to SGVP’s clinic. The victim has been identified as Atish Shah, a student of Class X. He had to take three stitches,” said another witness.
He added, “The DPS sports coach had spoken to the SGVP coach about the lack of discipline among SGVP students before the match. However, no warning was issued to the fans or the players.”
‘THEY THREW LEMONS EARLIER’
A DPS student who had witnessed all the basketball matches of his school team, said, “In the under-19 match held on Tuesday, SGVP fans threw lemons at our players. In another match, held the next day, they displayed rowdy behaviour by hooting and abusing our players. But what happened on Thursday, just cannot be tolerated.”
“Our boys never reacted to their abuses and name-calling. They simply played well and won matches. A school that doesn’t know how to inculcate sportsmanship spirit in its students should never participate in sports,” said another eyewitness.
Sources told Mirror that a police complaint in the case is ruled out since SGVP principal spoke to teachers, principal and players of DPS school, assuring them such incidents will not take place in future.
MATCHES RESCHEDULED
Sources said no police complaint will be filed since both DPS Bopal and SGVP have sorted out the matter District Sports Officer Baldev Desai, however, tried to downplay the incident. “Someone from the crowd threw a stone at DPS players in a fit of rage. We still do not know who did it. But the injured boy is out of danger. There is no enmity between the players of DPS and SGVP. Further matches have been put on hold. These will be rescheduled and held at a different venue.”
SGVP Principal Caesar D’Silva said, “Both DPS and SGVP students were present in the audience when the attack took place. But we don’t know who threw the stone at the student. We took the injured boy to the doctor as soon as we learnt about the incident. It is not a serious injury. I have already spoken to DPS school authorities, assuring them such an incident will not take place in future.”
DPS authorities informed Mirror that they made it very clear to SGVP principal that what happened was not right. “Our student’s condition is stable now. We have no idea who threw the stone at him. But we have made our displeasure about the incident very clear to SGVP principal. Further matches will now be held at another venue,” said Pradeep Chudasama, assistant manager, media and advocacy DPS (Bopal).
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