Verbatim reproduction of copy of communication between Narinder Batra, Secretary General, Hockey India, to Director General, Sports Authority of India.

Editor’s Note: This issue is now settled, as concerned Ministry has intervened and cleared the tour.

Sir,

Refer my telecon with you today at 2.19 P.M. regarding India Men Team tour for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in IPOH Malaysia, where SAI is to only bear the cost of airfare and rest other costs of inland travel, hotel and food costs are borne by the hosts. The proposal for the same was given SAI in January, 2013 and after which the team selection was done, based on which SAI approved the camp in Delhi.

You have very kindly informed me that SAI does not have funds to fund for the air travel of the India Men’s Team for this tournament and hence the tour may be cancelled.

Keeping your kind views in mind, we have no other option but to withdraw the participation of India Men Senior Team from Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament in IPOH Malaysia from 9 March, 2013 to 17 March, 2013 and the team was supposed to leave on 3 March, 2013 for which SAI had given permission to conduct the camp in Delhi and which is currently going on. This is a very important and a prestigious tournament where besides India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Korea, New Zealand and Australia were participating and playing again these countries is very important for the rebuilding of our team.

We wish to sincerely thank you Sir for your support for Hockey and hope it continued in same manner as it was in the past for development and improvement of our National Game in the same manner as shooting where SAI has increased the budget from 10 crores to 20 crores by 100%.

Regards

(NARINDER BATRA)

There is no need for, you, Roelant Oltmans (High Performance Director HI), Michael Nobbs (Men’s Hockey Coach), Neil Howgood (Women’s Hockey Coach) and Jason Konrath (Exercise Physiologist) to feel let down or disheartened.

We made a police complaint against a SAI Security Official on 24.02.2013 and this kind of retaliatory action was on expected lines, but we have many well wishers in our country for our National Game who feel for the game from their heart and I am sure those people in government and outside will help hockey for sure.