Hockey officials, players make headways for talks

NEW DELHI: Hockey India (HI) officials and six senior India players made some headway when they met on Saturday to resolve the issues arising out of non-payment of sponsorship money, match fees and bonuses, sparking a revolt in the camp in Pune.

HI president Ashok Kumar Mattoo met the players, including captain Rajpal Singh, who arrived from Pune in the afternoon.

“We have broken the ice and things are moving in the right direction,” Mattoo said.

“The players have some prior commitments and after that we will meet them again and I am hopeful that the issue will be resolved,” Mattoo said.

Skipper Rajpal Singh, Sandeep Singh, Sardara Singh, Tushar Khandekar, Prabhjot Singh and Arjun Halappa, along with caoch Harendra Singh, met Mattoo.

The players, who are preparing for the World Cup at Pune’s Balewadi Complex, on Friday “boycotted” the ongoing camp, protesting the non-payment of their dues.