SRFI hit by hoax e-mail

These are the days of hoax e-mails issuing death threats to political leaders et al. But, now the 'virus' seems to have spread to the world of sport too.

The Squash Rackets Federation of India was hit by one such ''fake e-mail missile'' on November 9 with somebody emboldened to put out one to the World Squash Federation, saying that Chennai could host the postponed World Open Professional Championships, originally allotted to Bombay.

The e-mail, purportedly put out by Cyrus Poncha, India's official national squash coach, suggested to the world federation that the World Open, which was originally scheduled to be held in Bombay next month but put off due to the US-led attack on Afghanistan, could be held in Chennai, the headquarters of the national federation.

The fake e-mail reads: "I wish to inform the World Squash Federation members that the World Open which was going to be held in Mumbai, India, in December 2001 and which has been postponed can now be held in Chennai, India."

However, waking up to this mischievous deed which could tarnish the image of the national federation, WSF director Howard Harding got in touch with national federation vice-president and Asian federation vice-president N Ramachandran in Chennai and put out a fax clarifying that the e-mail, purportedly sent by Cyrus Poncha, was nothing but a fake.

Ramachandran released the fake e-mail as well as the fax letter sent to him by Harding to the media.

Ramachandran said he was doing this because the fake e-mail was also sent to some newspapers across the country.

He confirmed that the national federation had never sought to hold the World Open in Chennai.

The hoax e-mail, which claimed that Ramachandran had asked Cyrus Poncha to write to the world federation, further reads: "I am Cyrus Poncha (India's official national coach) and the Squash Rackets Association of India (SRFI) sec-gen Mr N Ramachandran has told me to write to the WSF chief and others regarding this. He has told the WSF panel members that Procam doesn't have the capacity to organise such a big tournament as they are in serious financial problem. They will also back out for the rest 4 World Opens alloted to them.

"Mr N Ramachandran, also the ASF president, is ready to take over the said tournament and organise it in Chennai, India, at a very short notice. Since he directly cannot write he has asked me to write it to you," the e-mail hoax claims.

The hoax e mail also says: "Mr N Ramachandran's financial condition is very strong and has requested the WSF members to allot all the 5 World Opens, which was alloted to Procam from Mumbai to his company India Cements Ltd.

Kindly treat this matter urgently,

Thanking you,

Cyrus Poncha

Official national coach of India."

However, to set things right, on Novemeber 9, Harding sent an e-mail to Ramachandran, confirming that the e-mail from Poncha, offering an alternative World Open venue, was a hoax.

Harding's mail says: "A widely circulated e-mail, purporting to be an offer to salvage the recently postponed men's World Open Squash Championship, has been declared a hoax."

"I came to know about this e-mail, which appeared to come from the Indian national coach, Cyrus Poncha, when I received a response from PSA executive director Gawain Briars, asking for further details," said N Ramachandran, president of the Asian Squash Federation, from Chennai.

"I immediately contacted Ted Wallbutton, chief executive of the World Squash Federation. This is clearly the latest in a series of hoax e-mails which have emanated from India in the recent months. The 'yahoo' address which was used is not the official one of Cyrus Poncha and if I had intended to make such an offer, I would have made it personally and not delegated the task to my head coach, Ramachandran added."

UNI