SS badal offers help

BATHINDA: Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal, who is also the president of Hockey Punjab, has offered to sponsor the players for the World Cup, provided the sports ministry gives the go-ahead to the state.

“Punjab will organise conditioning camps for players within its territory if given the responsibility to sponsor it,” Badal said.

Interestingly, Badal had been highly critical of Hockey India last week for refusing affiliation to Hockey Punjab. As president of Hockey Punjab, he had accused Hockey India of holding the future of Punjab players to ransom.