No money, only promise for women hockey players

NEW DELHI: The men hockey players have got the incentives they deserved. The women, who supported them wholeheartedly during their strike, are likely to be left holding the sap’s end.

A day after Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi gave away the cheques to the men’s team in Pune for their achievements last year, it has transpired that the women, who too enjoyed a superb run in 2009 – winning the Champions Challenge II tournament and claiming the silver in the Asia Cup – will not get any incentive for their good work in the near future.

Hockey India president Vidya Stokes made it clear on Tuesday that the women’s team will not get any monetary rewards as of now owing to paucity of funds.

“We know that our women’s team has done well. We will be doing something for them at the earliest,” Stokes told TOI. “But I cannot fix a timeframe as there is a paucity of funds. Also, I don’t know how much of the Rs 1 crore which Sahara has given, was actually paid.”

As such, another tragedy may play out in the coming days, with the women wondering whether they have to continue with the thankless job of performing for the country or consider the possibility of a strike.

There were no ostensible signs of a boycott – with training at Bhopal in full swing – but the women’s camp was home to restive players, with a few feeling that a strike was indeed the way forward and the others suggesting that they ought to give Hockey India another chance. But the point they all agreed on was that the federation may not have the money to pay them.

Apparently, the Rs 1 crore paid by the sponsors Sahara had been divided among those in the Pune camp and the development team in Lucknow. And, despite assurances by Hockey India on Monday that it will pay the women for their fine run, the team is convinced it will not get a penny.

“Do we have always have to play second fiddle to men?” asked a player.

“At present, we have no plans to go on a strike. But do we have to be pushed that far to get what we deserve? Why wasn’t our performance considered when the men’s team was given the incentives?” We won the Champions Challenge in Kazan, the silver at the Asia Cup in Bangkok. We also drew the 3-match test series against Argentina (one defeat, one victory and a draw) and defeated Chile in another series. We want incentives consistent with what the men got: Rs 1,00,000 for gold, Rs 75,000 for silver and Rs 50,000 for bronze.”

The player said that in the past they got little attention from the federation despite having clamoured for what was rightfully theirs. “We are constantly looked down upon despite our achievements. We come from poor families. The incentives will go a long way in helping us financially. Will someone hear us out?” the player asked.

In November last year, the players had protested against HI for failing to pay their daily allowance during the Asia Cup in Bangkok.