‘Show us the money’

Vivek Phadnis

Hockey India’s (HI) attitude towards the women’s team may not be very encouraging but the developments on Friday showed that there are people who still care for the country’s so-called national sport.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has offered Rs1 crore to the women’s team that is training at the Sports Authority of India campus in Bhopal.

MS Gill, the Union sports minister, said he is in touch with the players to sort out the crisis.

“I am happy that the MP government has come forward to help the women’s team. I have spoken to Chouhan and he is eager to extend his support. I have also spoken to goalkeeper Dipika Murty and asked her to prepare a list of players who have not got their dues,” Gill said.

However, national women’s coach MK Kaushik the players will continue to wear black armbands “till something concrete happens.”

“Apparently, the money has already been given to the sports ministry by the MP government. We have to see what happens…Training will continue with black armbands,” Kaushik told DNA from Bhopal.

Meanwhile, it was learnt that commerce body ASSOCHAM has chipped in with Rs10 lakh. Kaushik said that this amount has also been given to the sports ministry. “However, we have not been able to speak to Vidya Stokes (acting chief of Hockey India) on the issue,” he said.

The bank account, opened by four players seeking contributions from the public, has received Rs30,000 till Friday evening, confirmed Kaushik.

Though the women’s team won silver in the Asia Cup in Bangkok
and clinched gold in the Champions Challenge II meet in Kazan (Russia) in 2009, they have not yet received payment for their achievements.

Stokes had said on Thursday that each player would receive Rs50,000 (out of approximately Rs2.75 lakh due to each player) for the time being.

The rest of the amount would be distributed after the HI elections on February 7 but the players were not ready for that. Stokes was unavailable for comment.