Stokes meets women’s team, gives assurance

Hockey India (HI) president, Vidya Stokes, met the women’s hockey team on Monday and assured them that their demands, following the sex scandal involving coach MK Kaushik and support staff, would be met. The team returned to the Capital from Busan, South Korea, after winning the bronze in the Asian Champions Trophy.

It was the first time since the sex scandal rocked the nation that Stokes met the players. “We met Stokes Ma’am and told her everything, what happened earlier and what is presently going on in the team,” said a player. “Ma’am told us that we should concentrate on our game and needn’t worry as Hockey India is with us and it will take care of T. Ranjitha’s complaint,” she added.

The players have demanded that coach, Vasu Thapliyal, who travelled with the team in the absence of Kaushik, should also be replaced and assistant coach, Sandeep Somesh, and goalkeeping coach, Khalid Modi, who were with the team in Bhopal before the Busan trip, should stay on, as they were aware of the team’s progress and training schedule.

“Even before leaving for Busan we had conveyed our demands to HI and even written to it. Today, we personally told Stokes Ma’am and she assured us that our demands would be met soon,” said another player. The members also complained against Madhu Yadav, who had accompanied the team as manager, to Stokes. “We had mentioned in our earlier letter that we don’t want her as manager. Her unhealthy comments have spoilt the team’s morale. Today, we reiterated our demand regarding her (Yadav),” said a player.