New Indian Express: It’s Time Indian Hockey Players Got Their Due

By Mir Ranjan Negi

It’s good to see so many corporate groups showing so much interest in hockey, but I still think Indian players should get a better deal. How can you pay just $58,000 to someone like Sardar Singh?

Everyone knows how good a player he is. He has led India from the front and has been active for Delhi Waveriders too. At a time when Indian hockey has gone through the tough days, Sardar held the fort.

t’s also because of him that Indian hockey is where it is today. Same with Rupinder Pal Singh. The drag- flicker has proved his class time and again and needs better treatment. I still believe that in Hockey India League, Indian players are more effective than the foreigners.

But let’s acknowledge HIL for how it has changed hockey. There was a time when we couldn’t even think of bringing corporates on board, forget about conducting a league.

The Indian Premier League prototype has given hockey stars across the globe a chance to prove their mettle and earn big money. Thursday’s auction just proved that again. The Germans were sought after and they fetched big bucks.

But to be honest, I am not happy with the prices offered to the Indians. I know Akashdeep Singh has been bought for $84000, and later it was a similar story with Gurvinder Chandi and Gurmail Singh, but even then, I feel Indians deserve a lot more.

So, the franchises should realise that ultimately the league will live on if the Indians are promoted. Last year, Mumbai relied heavily on Tom Boon and that move backfired. I am surprised to see Sandeep being sold at such a high price. Both Chandi and Sandeep have been almost nowhere, and the franchises have now put them under new pressure by spending so much.

I was a bit surprised to see no back-up plan for the unsold players. In IPL, there is a proper back-up plan for the unsold players. I just hope things improve hereon, and Indian players get their due respect.

As told to Shayan Acharya.

(Negi is a former India goalkeeper, on whose career popular flick Chak De India was based)