Legendary Ashok Kumar, son of Dhyan Chand, was part of the delegation of Olympians who met the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar last week. Terming the meting with the Minister was useful, the four-time World Cup player hopes positive things would emerge in the coming days.
“That the minister, who holds two other important portfolios other than sports, spent more than an hour to listen to us, is in itself a proof how much keen he is in the matter brought before him”, he said. Refusing to disclose all the discussion, Ashok Kumar said, “the ills that affect hockey are there for long time. I am not naïve to believe the things will be set right over night, or in a rally or with a memorandum. But am optimistic. We have taken some steps in the last two months. We believe they are effective. Our primary approach is to rake up the issue in the public mind and then follow it up with the appropriate authorities”.
As regards meeting with the minister, Ashok Kumar further said being a politician he believed solving the issue of hockey administration politically, that is, to take up the issue in the parliament and discuss.
Ashok Kumar agreed with the minister’s view and hopes a discussion in the parliament takes place in the coming session.