Indian hockey players getting public adulation is not uncommon. Not so uncommon is them getting rewards and awards. Sometimes even individuals come up and make up where others have seemingly failed.
However, the quantum of money that the country’s top bankers, State Bank of India — whose market capitalization recently soared to Rs.100,000 crore — has announced for the real Chennai Veerans, is clearly a record. SBI Chairman OP Bhatt announced Rs.5 lac (USD 12,500) each to the Chennai Asia Cup gold medallists, which works out to about Rs.1 crore (USD 2,50,000). Significance of this booty lies not in the numbers but in the record that a hockey donor makes – biggest ever institutional reward to any Indian hockey team.
To understand the whole scenario, a peep into the recent past is a must.
When the Indian juniors won the World Cup in 2001, the Indian Hockey Federation organized a welcome ceremony at the Intercontinental Hotel in Delhi. All those players, about 10 of them, who are from the northern part of India, were there. The IHF Chief KPS Gill and then Union Sports Minister Uma Bharti were the dignitaries on the dais. Even as the meeting was under progress, Prakash Singh Badal, then chief Minister of Punjab, appeared and was warmly welcomed by one and all. Badal was on Delhi that day to meet Uma Bharti to discuss financial aspects of Punjab hosting the National Games that year. As he heard the minister was in a felicitation function, he heartily turned up to join in it.
In the same function, he announced Rs.1 lac award to each of the players and the coaches. Which he promptly honoured a couple of months later. Except Sampath Kumar – he is always left out when the question of monetary benefits come — 18 players and four officials were given away the promised amount in a function held in Ludhiana. The total prize money was Rs.21 lac. The State players were given a flat also.
This remains the biggest purse ever given by any State Government to the hockey team, despite the 1998 Asian Games gold.
On individuals’ front, hotmail founder Sabeer Bhatia, a hockey fan, gave away Rs.1 lac to each player and the coaching staffs of the 1998 Asiad Gold winners. His father Baldev Bhatia was personally present in the function held at Bangalore in the early 1999.
This is by far the biggest purse ever given by an individual to hockey team.
From the same city G.R. Itigi, Managing Director, U&I Computers Pvt, Ltd, and K.K. Rao, Chairman, Trends Wear too promised the same amount as that of hotmail Bhatia but it could not ascertained whether those promises were honoured or not.
Almost the same amount was given by the Indian Hockey Federation twice – for the 2003 Asia Cup and 1998 Asian Games teams. Though not officially ever announced an IHF official in a recent television interview informed that the IHF will pay each player Rs.1 lac in recognition of their Chennai success.
Various State governments, especially Haryana, Punjab and Jharkhand, have been given big sums to its State players, quantity and numbers certainly varied. Haryana in particular gave to its women hockey players Rs.20 lac to each to its four players for their performance in 2003. But these and other States’s gesture do not constitute award to the team.
Over all, with these figures in mind, one can safely conclude the SBI gesture is significant. As and when the amount would be disbursed, it would be the highest purse ever given to a hockey team.
Bhatt and his group certainly deserves kudos for the path breaking bonanza.
The following is the official statement of Chairman Bhatt.
“It is indeed a matter of national pride that our young players in the national hockey team have lifted the coveted Asia Cup with several records to their credit. Our players have shown great determination, exemplary teamwork and utmost dedication to the game. The team has brought glory to the country and today we salute them with a small gift from the State Bank family. The entire staff of the State Bank Group joins me in extending warm wishes to each member of the team for more such glorious moments, and a satisfying playing career ahead.”
Well said.
Picture Captions:
Top: SBI Chairman O.P. Bhatt
Middle: Hotmail founder Sabeer Bhatia
Bottom: Baldev Bhatia giving away cheques to ’98 Asiad team in the presence of MP Ganesh(centre) and MKKaushik (right).
Pictures: Courtesy:Hockey Year Book Photo Library