London doctor offers Rs 10 lakh for hockey players

NEW DELHI: Pained by the hockey turmoil, an Indian doctor in London has offered Rs 10 lakh for the players who are staying away from World Cup preparatory camp in Pune in protest against non-payment of their dues and incentives.

Hockey Olympian and former chief coach Joaquim Carvalho said that Dr James Leitao, a former student of Mumbai’s Grand Medical College, has decided to pay Rs 10 lakh for the protesting players, requesting them to return to the camp and train for the World Cup which begins on February 28.

“Dr Leitao has urged the players to put behind their difference and rejoin the camp to represent India in the World Cup,” Carvalho said.

“He happened to read about the stand-off between the players and Hockey India and said he was rather disturbed over the imbroglio.

“That’s why he decided to pay the money and also promised to contact hockey-minded Indian friends in England and raise more money for the players,” he said.

Besides, Dr Leitao, who himself played hockey in London leagues, also promised to donate his Goa residence to the Indian players if they manage a podium finish in the World Cup.

“If they manage the feat, it would be upto the players, what they want to do with the property — sell, rent or utilise the facility,” Carvalho added.

Earlier, negotiation collapsed between the players and HI in Pune, creating a new low for Indian hockey.