‘Hockey players should be getting their dues’

Hockey Olympian Harbinder Singh who has represented India in three consecutive Olympics— winning a gold in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and bronze medals in the Mexico Olympics and Munich Olympics held thereafter, is quite peeved at the recent developments in Indian hockey. The hockey great holds Hockey India responsible for the sorry state of affairs.

Talking to The Indian Express, Harbinder who was in city on Sunday as chief guest for the under-14 ‘Babu’ hockey said, “Episodes like players going on strike or wearing black bands during practice bring disrepute to the nation as the world sees the shabby treatment meted out to the players. I hold Hockey India responsible for the entire thing. Had it been giving the players their proper dues, they would not have been compelled to go on strike. Who knows whether the new body would have carried out the promises made by the present HI officials. When you talk about merger men’s and women’s hockey bodies, then women players should also be getting equal money.”

“From whatever I have come to know about HI through the media, be it giving affiliation to state units before elections or the treatment meted out to the players, I am quite suspicious about the way of its functioning. It does not seem to be much bothered about the welfare of the players and hockey development.”

Regarding India’s preparations for the upcoming World Cup, the 1966 Asian Games gold medallist said in a candid tone, “The preparations have been good. We have a foreign coach also and the team has gone on tours abroad but it would be good enough if India is able to make it among the top six as the top 12 teams of the world will be participating in the event and winning a medal is really tough. It would be just great if we are able to attain a medal.”

He says for hockey revival, it is essential that national hockey championships are organised every year. “Proper nationals should be organised every year as nationals are the right platform to select the players for the Indian team. Teams of different states have to participate in the nationals, therefore, the state associations and district associations also become a lot more active and start organising tournaments and selection camps to chalk out talent.”

The hockey veteran feels that it is quite important for players to be athletes. It instils confidence in you. “I still remember when in 1967 representing the Railways, we defeated the Services team which also featured Milkha Singh in the 4×100 m relay race during the All India Open Athletic Meet at Punjab. Being a good athlete always helped me in making moves on the hockey field,” he explains.