The national hockey team on Tuesday sent a letter to Hockey India, asking for the payment of the incentives they were promised after finishing third at the Champions Challenge hockey tournament held in Argentina last month.
Hockey India president AK Mattoo confirmed that he has received the letter but didn’t commit on the payment issue. “I had received one letter. After taking a good look at it, I am seeing what can be done. If Hockey India can afford it, we will give them their dues,” Mattoo told The Indian Express.
The players, preparing for the world cup to be held in Delhi in February-March, had earlier threatened to stop training if their demand was not met by January 8. On Tuesday, they again made it clear that they would stick to the deadline. “Though we haven’t mentioned that in the letter that we wrote to HI, but in case we don’t get a favourable reply from them by Friday, we will stop training,” said an India player who did not wish to be identified.
When asked if he was aware of any such ultimatum by the players, Mattoo said: “How can they threaten to stop training. They should realise that they are playing for their country and not for themselves.”
However, the mood in the camp was rebellious, with the team members saying that hockey officials needed to change their attitude towards the players.
“We have had enough of this, we can’t continue to play without getting any money in return,” he said.
Besides the incentives, the players are also demanding fixed monthly salaries, citing that the Pakistan Hockey Federation pays Rs 50,000 a month to its players.