Hockey India to fete women’s hockey team

30 Jun 2009, PTI

NEW DELHI: Hockey India on Tuesday dismissed charges of indifference towards the women’s team which won the FIH Champions Challenge II in Russia and promised to fete them when the players gather together.

Rubbishing allegations that HI showed indifference to the team and did not send a single official to receive them at the airport, HI secretary general Mohammad Aslam said on the contrary, the body was planning to felicitate them at a later date.

“I have congratulated the team and have been in constant touch with the team when they were in Kazan,” Aslam said

“We will call all the players once they assemble after their break and felicitate them,” he said.

The Indian team under Surinder Kaur won the event to qualify for 2011 Champions Challenge I and they would have to win that tournament as well to qualify for 2012 Champions Trophy.

Coach of the side M K Kaushik said a warm welcome would have pleased the girls but he was not complaining.

“It would have been a confident booster for the girls but I am not complaining. What the present Hockey India set up and Mohammad Aslam did is commandable. They arranged visa and all within no time, so I have no complaints,” Kaushik said.