Players back in training

The Indian hockey team resumed training on Thursday after Hockey India met their demands following a five-day strike. The players had a light practice session, involving a warm-up, a short game and a bit of stretching. “We had arranged a low intensity training session as the players are coming back after a long lay-off but it will increase,” said coach Jose Brasa. The players have suggested they would want a representative from the present squad to be a member of the Players Development Committee “to oversee the working of the committee, so that we know that the money will be going towards the growth of Indian hockey,” said Deepak Thakur.

Dhanraj Pillay, treasurer of this committee, said, “I also agree with the players and I will raise this issue with Mr Kalmadi.”

The players say they will be satisfied only when the assurances materialise. They have also requested that any offer of support from the corporates or celebrities should be made directly to the players and not routed through the federation. “We want the federation to be actively involved but not without our knowledge. We would like to be involved so that there is no scope of any miscommunication,” they said.