Hockey India woes increase

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: In what could amount to a rebuff to Hockey India (HI), the Union Sports Ministry has turned down its request for financial assistance to meet the expenses for five-star hotel accommodation of the Indian team scheduled to participate in the World Cup tournament here from February 28.

Instead, the ministry has told HI that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) may apply for such assistance since it (HI) had no ‘locus standi’ in the matter.

According to HI Secretary-General Narinder Batra, the ministry informed HI on Friday that it was the IOA that was entitled to seek financial support and he in turn explained to the ministry, in a reply sent the same day, that IOA’s right in seeking grant was in relation to the conduct of the tournament and not with regard to the expenditure for the Indian team.

The IOA is a partner with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in the organisation of the World Cup.

No reply

Mr. Batra said there was no reply from the ministry till late Saturday evening and HI was being put to inconvenience in paying the advance for hotel accommodation.

Teams for the tournament are being accommodated in a five-star hotel and they are expected to bear their expenditure.

Mr. Batra had the other day accused the ministry of bias in matters related to HI elections and the latest response of the ministry may have set up the stage for non-cooperation with, if not de-recognition of, the hockey body.