Women hockey players richer by Rs 4.2 lakh
BANGALORE: The Indian women’s hockey team received cheques from the Madhya Pradesh government and the Union sports ministry in Bhopal but insisted it would continue with the black armband protest as it had found no favourable gesture from Hockey India.
On Thursday, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Chouhan, who hosted a dinner for the team, paid Rs 1 lakh each to the 18 players and five officials of the silver-medal winning Asia Cup squad. He also announced a Rs 50-lakh contribution to the joint account that the team had opened a few days back and said the 41 probables and nine team officials ought to share the amount equally.
On Friday, the last day of the camp, sports ministry officials gave away Rs 2.2 lakh each to 41 players. The money was from the Rs 1-crore donation which Chouhan had made last week. Payment for coaches and other support staff will be considered later, ministry officials said.
The players, some of whom earned a maximum of Rs 4.2 lakh, however said they would continue with the protest.
“As ever, Hockey India has remained aloof. We demanded parity with the men hockey players in every respect but they have turned a deaf ear to it. So our protest will continue in the next camp in February,” a player told TOI.