Bangalore: The Bangalore University hockey team will get the shoes, after all. They will be airlifted to Bhubaneshwar on Thursday morning before being delivered to the team in Sambalpur either the same evening or on the morning of Friday.
“Pravin is a good friend of mine and has promised me that the job would be done. He has instructed his department to deliver the shoes on time,” Nagarajan told TOI.
Bangalore University officials looked suitably contrite after spending the entire day on Tuesday passing the buck. They arranged for the shoes in half a day and delivered it at Nagarajan’s doorstep. They even politely refused Nagarajan’s offer to pick up the tab. “We will pay for the shoes. We are thankful to Mr Nagarajan,” BU physical education director Munireddy said. “We will despatch the cargo along with a letter to the Orissa sports ministry, seeking their help in delivering the shoes to the team.”
While no other official reaction emerged from BU, the fact that they embarked upon damage-control measures after indulging in excuses and offering impractical solutions the previous day came as a welcome change.
Nagarajan said he was happy to promote the game. “I am willing to sponsor university sports. Hockey is our national game and requires our support. The players are our future and we cannot treat them so shabbily.”