Players & HI patch up, refuse to divulge details
Hockey India (HI) and the national team resolved their differences over financial matters on Saturday and the players will return to practice on Sunday. The breakthrough came at a meeting of six members of the team including skipper Rajpal Singh, Prabhjot Singh and Sandeep Singh with HI officials in the Capital.
HI president, Ashok Kumar Mattoo, and Rajpal Singh emerged all smiles from the meeting that lasted several hours. Mattoo termed the meeting as meaningful and said that all complaints had been addressed “in a mutually consenting manner”.
“HI is a large family and differences can crop up. It’s natural, but financial issues can never come in the middle of the Indian team and the World Cup. We heard what the players had to say and put forth our constraints. We have found a middle path,” he said.
A tired-looking Rajpal Singh looked relieved. “We will resume practice from tomorrow. All matters have been settled and I am satisfied with the response from HI,” he said.
However, both Mattoo and Rajpal refused to divulge details of the settlement reached. “It is a private matter,” said Mattoo.
Surprisingly, Rajpal said that the players never really went on strike but were merely proving a point. “Strike is an improper term to associate with our behaviour in the last two days.”
The players had refused to practice due to non-payment of dues. “We had certain problems but I don’t want to get into the details as we have reached a consensus,” said the Indian skipper. He remained firm on not divulging the details of what was agreed upon or what transpired in the meeting.
Mattoo, who had threatened the players with strict action, was in a forgiving mood after Saturday’s meeting. “Let us forget the past and look to the future. The entire team will come to Delhi and I am confident of their prospects in the World Cup. I wish them luck.”