Former hockey Olympians invited to attend World Cup
NEW DELHI: FIH World Cup organising committee co-chairman Suresh Kalmadi on Monday invited former hockey Olympians to attend the 12-nation mega-event that India is hosting after a gap of 28 years.
“We respect all those who have represented India in the hockey competitions in the Olympic Games over a number of years,” Kalmadi said in a statement.
“They have created a wonderful legacy for the present generation to follow. We want to show our love and respect for these players by getting them to attend the World Cup here.
“We have designated former India captain Zafar Iqbal to co-ordinate the requests from the Olympians,” he said.
Kalmadi, who is also the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President, said it would also give them a chance to celebrate the efforts made by the former players for the country.
“We are sure that a number of these stars who have toiled hard and have placed hockey on a pedestal by winning eight Olympic gold medals and by winning the 1975 World Cup, will make it to Delhi. It is our chance to celebrate their efforts one more time,” Kalmadi said.