Ludhiana, Jan. 3 -- A blame game has erupted between the department of sports and the Punjab Kayaking and Canoeing Association over failure to conduct state-level trials for selecting a team for participation in the 14th National Dragon Boat Championship, to be held from January 6 to 9 in Bhopal.

The trials were supposed to be conducted at the Katli Water Sports Centre in Ropar on December 22 to 24. The Punjab Kayaking and Canoeing Association said it could not conduct the trials as no permission was received from the sports department whereas the latter claimed that it didn't receive any such communication from the association.

Association general secretary Prabhjeev Singh said, "We applied for permission on December 12. We still have ...