Hockey India plans gradation system before World Cup

NEW DELHI: The long-standing demand for a gradation system might soon become a reality with Hockey India on Tuesday saying that it was trying to put in place such an arrangement before the World Cup starting on February 28.

The HI committee on gradation of players on Tuesday met the captains and coaches of the national men’s and women’s teams and discussed the matter in detail.

HI technical director (planning) and gradation committee convenor Jagbir Singh said the meeting was held in a healthy atmosphere and half the job was done.

“It was a preliminary meeting but we arrived at a broad understanding in four areas — gradation of players, payment of match fees, winning incentives and daily allowances for players during national camps and overseas trips,” Jagbir said.

“It was an open meeting and both the sides were willing to understand each other. We have done a good beginning and we are expecting a positive outcome before the World Cup,” he said.

Apart from Jagbir, the committee also includes former players Ajitpal Singh, MP Ganesh, Zafar Iqbal and Dhanraj Pillay while HI President Vidya Stokes and secretary general Narinder Batra were special invitees.

The meeting was also attended by senior national men’s team captain Rajpal Singh and coach Harendra Singh and women’s side skipper Surinder Kaur and coach M K Kaushik.