Showing posts with label Hockey India. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hockey India. Show all posts

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Hockey India to give Rs 50,000 each to women players

NEW DELHI: The Indian women hockey team's silent protest over the non-payment of their dues seemed to have worked with Hockey India deciding toHockey India to give Rs 50,000 each to women players immediately release cash reward of Rs 50,000 each for the players of the ongoing national camp in Bhopal.

HI interim president Vidya Stokes told reporters here that apart from Rs 50,000, the ad-hoc national body has requested the government to give each player Rs one lakh for their silver medal winning performance in last year's Asia Cup in Bangkok and gold in the inaugural Champions Challenge I in Kazan, Russia.

"We have requested the Sports Ministry to give each women player Rs one lakh as reward for their silver medal in Asia Cup," Stokes said.

"But as of now, we (HI) are immediately giving Rs 50,000 each all the 19 players of the camp for their outstanding performance last year."

"I have spoken to the coach and captain and they are very happy. We will issues the cheques as early as possible, she added.

Following in the footsteps of their male counterparts, the Indian women hockey players on Thursday protested the non-payment of their dues by wearing black armbands during the training session of Commonwealth Games preparatory camp in Bhopal.

The protesting women players have not received their dues since April last year, and hence the core group decided to sport black bands in protest in contrast against the men's team's move to go on strike.

The team has also opened a savings account in Bhopal branch of the Syndicate Bank and has asked hockey loving fans all over the country to support their cause.

TOI

Friday, June 5, 2009

Olympians back formation of Hockey India

NEW DELHI: Formation of Hockey India seemed to have polarised the fraternity with the Olympian trio of Ajit Pal Singh, Zafar Iqbal and Jagbir Singh on Friday backing the body, saying it was the only way to ensure 2010 World Cup stays in India.

A day after Joaquim Carvalho, Gavin Perreira and Gurbux Singh criticised the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for setting up Hockey India without consulting the states, Ajit Pal, Zafar and Jagbir saw logic behind the move, calling it a step in the right direction.

Ajit Pal said the IOA had to form Hockey India since it was under pressure from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to form a unified body comprising men and women's units or else lose next year's World as well as the nation's participation right in FIH events.

"In my opinion, Indian hockey had to start from somewhere. I'm happy IOA formed Hockey India to save the World Cup. The FIH has threatened to isolate India and under these circumstances, they had no options," Ajit Pal said.

He also oozed confidence that Hockey India's seven-member governing council would declare elections within the stipulated six months time and by then, all disputes would die down.

"Wait six months and see what exactly happens," he said.

Ajit Pal, who led the 1975 World Cup winning squad, also cast aspersions on the intentions of the state associations opposing the move.

"What were the state associations doing when hockey was gasping for breath? We never get any feedback states and now they are feeling left out," he wondered.

Member of India's last Olympic gold medal winning side, Zafar Iqbal also felt the state associations were sulking unnecessarily since they would become Hockey India members when elections are held.

"Hockey India is a step in the right direction. The IOA have put it in place of an ad-hoc body which didn't have any power. Now Hockey India can take right decisions and the FIH has Hockey India to deal with," said Zafar, a former captain and a member of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal winning side.

"If the state associations think IOA would contine to run the show, they are mistaken. Ultimately, after the elections, the final say would be of the states," he explained.

"I don't think the IOA would like to run hockey when it has other important things to worry about, especially the 2010 Commonwelath Games," he added.

Former India coach Jagbir Singh too backed the body and said it was a welcome step.

"As a player I welcome the decision of forming Hockey India because by doing so the IOA saved the next year's World Cup," he said.

Source:TOI