Players stop training in Pune
Hockey India is yet to resolve the issue of incentive, which the players in the national camp had demanded a couple of days ago.
With deadline of January 8, which the players had set, is over, it is uncertain whether players will resume training from tomorrow or not. In fact, the players didn’t go for practice today.
Players openly said they have stopped training from today, but one of the officials with the camp said, it was a rest day.
“Since today was a rest day, there was no training,” said the official on the condition of anonymity from Pune where national hockey camp in progress.
The officials however, did not divulge in the issue whether players will resume training from tomorrow or not. ” I can’t say about tomorrow (read Friday),” was all he said.
The official further said, players grievances had been apprised to the Hockey India. Top official of the Hockey India, in its reply, says the official, had stated that issue will be resolved by Friday (January 9).
But the players made it clear they will not resume practice till the time their demands of incentives and gradation of players is sorted out.
Sources also point out that Hockey Punjab have had its share in provoking the players in the camp to raise the issue of incentives and gradation at this moment, as Hockey India is not giving affiliation to Punjab unit.
There are as many as eight players from Punjab in the 22 member squad that has been selected to train for the upcoming World Cup. Of the eight, almost all of them have fair chance of finding a place in the final 18-member team to represent the nation.
“Hence, if those key players from Punjab back out, it will certainly effect the composition of the team,” said the official.
Since AK Mattoo, president of Hockey India, didn’t respond to repeated calls, clouds of uncertainty prevails over National camp in Pune. However he said a television channel that he will meet players tomorrow (Saturday). Six players are coming to Delhi on Saturday as a part of photo shoot in connection with World Cup Promo.