Hockey India cuts ties with Sahara

Friday, 24 July 2009

Age Correspondent

New Delhi, July 23: In a sudden turn of events, Hockey India on Thursday cut all ties with team sponsors Sahara India, saying that the federation was on the lookout for new backers.

The Europe-bound Indian team were handed new kits that bore the words “Hockey India” on the team shirt in place of “Sahara India”. The kit is sponsored by Adidas.

Said Hockey India president A.K. Mattoo, “Sahara India are no longer the sponsors of the Indian team. A lot of companies are interested in taking up hockey and talks are on.”

The news though has not gone down well with Sahara India, who have threatened action against the hockey body.

Abhijet Sarckar, Sahara’s head of corporate communications told this paper, “Hockey India has no right to terminate the contract in this arbitrary manner. We have been the official sponsors since 2003 and the contract cannot be termed be void without any intimation. We will take strict action soon.”

Sahara India, also sponsors of the Indian cricket team, entered into an eight-year contract worth approximately Rs 20 crores with the erstwhile Indian Hockey Federation in 2003 to use the company logo on the senior as well as junior national team’s outfit during all international tournaments.

Said Mattoo, “Sahara had a contract with the Indian Hockey Federation which ceases to exist. So how does their contract remain valid?”

Things turned sour between the two parties earlier this year during the four-nation Punjab Gold Cup in Chandigarh when Sahara served a legal notice to the Indian Olympic Association-appointed ad-hoc committee, for not using the logo on the team’s outfit.

While the ad-hoc committee complained of the lack of funds from Sahara, the latter said they could not provide requisite financing due to lack of proper paperwork.

The ad-hoc committee also wanted some changes in the contract, which never materialised.

“We were always ready to pay the amount, but we cannot do so without proper papers.

“Ad-hoc committee member A.K. Mattoo, who was handling the sponsorship issue, had raised objections in two clauses and asked them to be changed.”

“Accordingly, we ratified the clauses and sent it back but till today they haven’t signed on it,” Sahara India had said then.

The Asian Age

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