M A I N   N E W S

Hockey players strike fiscal goal, to rejoin camp

MOVING PAST DEAL POST Sponsors Sahara India give Rs 1 crore, which would be disbursed among players within a week No player to be targeted for boycotting camp and other issues to be settled in due course of time Players' Welfare Development Fund to be created, with former Indian captain Dhanraj Pillay its in charge Besides some corporate houses, Punjab, MP, Maharashtra, UP promise financial support to players

Pune, January 13
The biggest crisis to hit Indian hockey was today resolved after a compromise deal was worked out between the game's administrators and the striking players who have been promised an immediate disbursement of Rs 1 crore.

Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi brokered a deal that envisaged a long-term plan to meet the players’ financial demands, which convinced the players to rejoin the camp -- stalled for the last five days due to the payment dispute.

Kalmadi, who flew in here this morning to negotiate with the protesting players, said a full settlement had been reached (with the protesting players) but did not clearly specify how he intended to meet all the demands. “Hockey has been our national game. It can never be a national shame. It will be our national pride. The players all feel that they want to bring up Indian hockey. I assured them of full support," Kalmadi told a press conference after his meeting with the players.

Also Chairman of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Kalmadi said the Rs 1 crore given by sponsors Sahara India would be disbursed among the players within a week and all other issues would be settled in due course of time. The settlement of the crisis, which has been dogging Indian hockey for some time, paves way for the players to rejoin the World Cup preparatory camp from tomorrow.

The players, who were till yesterday insisting on a written assurance from Hockey India that all their demands would be met, decided to withdraw the strike on only a verbal assurance from Kalmadi. The settlement evoked a sense of relief in the hockey fraternity with former players and administrators welcoming the development, which would now allow the players to focus on the February 28-March 13 World Cup in Delhi.

Maya offers Rs 5 crore

Lucknow, January 13
In a spontaneous gesture, Chief Minister Mayawati today came to the aid of the beleaguered hockey players by offering Hockey India (HI) a financial assistance of Rs 5 crore to sort out the differences between the players and the organisation.

According to official sources, the Chief Minister has also proposed to sponsor the team for the next two years. Rs 5 crore is expected to help the hockey players, who had to serve an ultimatum on the HI by refusing to practise over their pending dues.

The Mayawati government’s announcement came immediately after junior hockey players, currently camping here at Sports Authority of India (SAI) sub-centre, announced to join the seniors in their cause. Some of the juniors are being in the reckoning to replace some of the seniors if the matter had remained unresolved. — TNS

Be proactive, ministry told

New Delhi, January 13
The Congress today asked the Sports Ministry to play a more proactive role and engage in dialogue with various hockey federations in the backdrop of the crisis in Indian hockey where players resorted to strike.

Party spokesman Manish Tewari said the ministry should talk to the sports federations to ensure that the players do not go on strike.

Describing it as a “sad controversy”, especially when the Hockey World Cup and Commonwealth Games are to be held in the country this year, Tewari expressed satisfaction that the matter had been sorted out. — PTI