Hockey team yet to pay NRI for food bills

New Delhi: The pitiable condition of the national game is reflected in the fact that the Indian hockey team failed to pay its food bill while on a tour of Australia to play a four-nation tournament.

The Indian team owes around Rs 7 lakh to an NRI businessman, owner of Royal India Restaurant, as food bills run up by the team which visited Perth and Darwin in April-May this year.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, sports minister M.S. Gill said, “The government has received a communication from H.S. Chouhan, of Royal India Restaurant, regarding the non-payment of catering bills by Indian hockey team which visited Perth and Darwin, Australia, to play a four-nation tournament in April/May 2008.”

The bill is stated to be A$18,816, the minister informed the House.

The blame for the mess, which reflects the country in bad light, has been attributed to the suspension of Indian Hockey Federation led by K.P.S. Gill, during whose tenure the team was sent to play the tournament.

Under the scheme of assistance to national sports federations, the government provides financial support to these federations to participate in international events, which include the cost of boarding. The federation concerned is required to submit the audited accounts for the settlement of accounts.