BANGALORE/PUNE: India’s national game plummeted to a new low as hockey players went on strike at the Balevadi (Pune) national camp on Friday, boycotting the morning session and plotting fresh moves to get their ‘dues’ from Hockey India.
The players claimed they hadn’t got a penny from HI ever since the ad hoc body replaced the KPS Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation last year and alleged that Hockey India hadn’t bothered about the ultimatum they had served before leaving for Argentina for the Champions Challenge tournament in December.
“We did not get any positive response to our appeal for dues, match fees and bonuses from Hockey India,” players said on Friday. “We were scheduled to train in the morning but decided against it. If we are to wear jerseys with the Sahara logo on them we need to be paid. We will continue the boycott until the issue is resolved.”
A furious Hockey India threatened “strict action” against the players for their “gross act of indiscipline”. In a letter to chief coach Jose Brasa and coach Harendra Singh, Hockey India president AK Mattoo said it was a matter of great regret that instead of waiting for the outcome of a meeting scheduled for Saturday, the players “maligned us”.
However, the players seemed determined to stick to their guns. “We want to be heard and there couldn’t have been a better time than this,” they said. The World Cup is slated to be held in New Delhi in February-March.