DORTMUND: India were punished for refusing to play Israel at the 40th World Table Tennis Championships on Monday and the tournament head called for strong action against teams who staged political boycotts.

Both India and Pakistan who failed to appear for a tie against Israel on Friday were relegated to the bottom of their group, were penalized on technical and not political ground.

“We think it shameful to misuse (our) hospitality for political maneuvers said organizing committee president Hans Wilhelm Gaeb after India followed Pakistan in failing to appear for a tie against Israel.

The competition jury acting on a formal protest ‘by Israel relegated India’s men’s team to 32nd place in the final world Championship rankings, The Indians had been due to play off for 27th and 28th places.

India has no diplomatic relations with Israel and Mr. Suresh Gawade, secretary of the Table Tennis Federation of India said: “It is a blanket order that we cannot play against Israel, and we cannot go against it. We are even prepared to take 32nd place rather than play them.

Gaeb called on the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) which meets here on Friday to act against teams who refused to play as scheduled.

“We welcome all ITTF member associations regardless of their political points of view to the Federal Republic of Germany as our guests,” Gacb said.

“We now expect the ITTF to act as severely as it is empowered to” But organizing committee officials said it was difficult to prove that a team had pulled out because of political reasons.

Last week the ITTF imposed a bizarre penalty on Pakistan for their refusal to play Israel.

They were at one and the same time disqualified from the championships and yet allowed to play on.

Pakistan said they had misread the playing schedule.

“There is no proof that it is political” said ‘organizing committee sports director Eber hard Scholar. India gave us no reason.

Last year India’s Davis Cup squad pulled ‘out from a Tel Aviv tie against Israel on the ‘orders of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi saying threats had been made against their players in India.

Article extracted from this publication >>  April 21, 1989