Sanatan clarifies player eligibility

ALL Sanatan Dharm followers, including children from mixed marriages, provided they practice and are active followers, are eligible to participate in sporting events during the annual convention in Labasa next month.

Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji president Dhirendra Nand admitted that there was a “wrong choice of words used” in Sabha’s National Sports Wing flyer on player eligibility for the 2024 Sanatan IDC Convention dated January 30.

“There has been some confusion concerning player eligibility rules,” said Nand.

“The national executive council of the Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji (SSDPS) during its national delegates council meeting on February 11, 2024, has made it clear that all Sanatan Dharm followers will be eligible to participate in sporting events during the annual convention.

“This includes children from mixed marriages provided they practice and are active followers of Sanatan Dharm and in their daily lives.”

He said in the past there were occasions when non-Sanatan

Dharm followers participated in the sporting events by providing false declarations, which led to unnecessary commotion and protests during the convention.

“This year the Sanatan Sports Wing will ensure proper due diligence is followed concerning player eligibility during registration,” Nand added.

“The organisation of any sporting event in the Sanatan convention is bound by the religious player eligibility rules. This is to ensure all Sanatan followers are given a fair opportunity to participate.”

Nand said the objective of organising any sporting event as part of the annual Sanatan convention was to promote peace, unity, and healthy life and encourage youths as well as senior members to be actively involved in promoting the principles of Sanatan Dharm in our community.

The player eligibility rules in the Sabha’s last flyer received strong criticism from Sanatan followers in the country, with many expressing their disappointment on the rule on social media as it stated that only pure Sanatani (father and mother of Indian descent) would be allowed to participate in sporting events during the annual convention.