Pune:
The crisis in Indian hockey is no closer to being resolved than it was two days ago - the hockey players remain adamant and say they will not resume training for the World Cup unless they are paid their dues for last year's podium finishes. And Hockey India has given them till Thursday to return to training or face sacking.
Sports Minister MS Gill made a late evening appeal to the players on Tuesday to call off their strike and play the World Cup to win. He promised them a "fair deal" after the tournament. (Read: Sports Minister asks players to call off strike)
But the other Gill, former chief of the hockey federation, KPS Gill slammed the government saying: "Biggest fault is of government, there is no synergy with Hockey India. Both parties should put egoes aside and work at resolving the issue." (Watch: Government is at fault, says KPS Gill)
On Tuesday, Hockey India, the interim body that governs the game, threw up its hands saying it did not have the money to pay the players. It has given the players till Thursday to go back to practice or else it will go ahead and play the World Cup next month with reserves or totally new players who will be given "crash training". (Read: Hockey India - Players too "money-minded")
Hockey India president AK Mattoo said: "Players have told us they will continue with the strike...It seems like money is more important for players than playing for their nation. Everywhere across the globe, the priority is playing for the country and not the money." (Read: Hockey India - Players too "money-minded")
Mattoo said the kind of money the players were demanding would run into crores of rupees and the body did not have the cash surplus, something that had been explained to the players. (Pics: Crisis in Indian hockey)
Hockey India says it simply can't pay the Rs 4.5 lakh per player because it doesn't have it. Instead it has offered the players Rs 25,000 each for the moment. (Read: What players want)
Mattoo said if the players did not return to practice in a day, the preparatory camp for World Cup would be broken for a few days and then would resume. Players who did not practice would have to leave the complex.
A militant national hockey team, in a show of strength, said the players would not back down and that they had no option but to resort to this timing before the World Cup in Delhi next month. Player Deepak Thakur pointed out that the timing was right because it got the right attention.
Retaliating to the comments by the members of Hockey India, the Indian Team said in unity that they had seen no accounts from Hockey India. A member of Team India said, "Hockey India still owes us dues from last year. Since they have no money for us for the World Cup, we are willing to play World Cup on our own money. We will bear all the expense. If they have no money, they should resign. Leave alone everything, they have given us no assurance as yet.". (Read: Players - We'll play World Cup at own expense)
The team revealed that the Federation had promised Rs 1 Crore for podium finish at World Cup. Adrian D'Souza said: "We've asked to meet Sahara (the sponsors), we've asked for the accounts, we've asked to see where the money has gone, but we haven't got anything till now"
Earlier in day, prior to the meeting between players and Hockey India, the Punjab government and the Madhya Pradesh government had put their hands up in support of the team and decided to meet all their demands. (Read: Madhya Pradesh offers help)
Punjab Dy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal who is president of Punjab Hockey Federation said, "Punjab govt is willing to take all responsibilities, expenditures, training of all the players. We are willing to take on all the expenses and the training if they send the camp to the Punjab govt." (Campaign: Join the petition)
The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had also said that the State government was willing to bear the expenditure for increased payment and training for players of Indian National Hockey team. (India 4 Hockey: Here's how you can help)
Sports Minister MS Gill made a late evening appeal to the players on Tuesday to call off their strike and play the World Cup to win. He promised them a "fair deal" after the tournament. (Read: Sports Minister asks players to call off strike)
But the other Gill, former chief of the hockey federation, KPS Gill slammed the government saying: "Biggest fault is of government, there is no synergy with Hockey India. Both parties should put egoes aside and work at resolving the issue." (Watch: Government is at fault, says KPS Gill)
On Tuesday, Hockey India, the interim body that governs the game, threw up its hands saying it did not have the money to pay the players. It has given the players till Thursday to go back to practice or else it will go ahead and play the World Cup next month with reserves or totally new players who will be given "crash training". (Read: Hockey India - Players too "money-minded")
Hockey India president AK Mattoo said: "Players have told us they will continue with the strike...It seems like money is more important for players than playing for their nation. Everywhere across the globe, the priority is playing for the country and not the money." (Read: Hockey India - Players too "money-minded")
Mattoo said the kind of money the players were demanding would run into crores of rupees and the body did not have the cash surplus, something that had been explained to the players. (Pics: Crisis in Indian hockey)
Hockey India says it simply can't pay the Rs 4.5 lakh per player because it doesn't have it. Instead it has offered the players Rs 25,000 each for the moment. (Read: What players want)
Mattoo said if the players did not return to practice in a day, the preparatory camp for World Cup would be broken for a few days and then would resume. Players who did not practice would have to leave the complex.
A militant national hockey team, in a show of strength, said the players would not back down and that they had no option but to resort to this timing before the World Cup in Delhi next month. Player Deepak Thakur pointed out that the timing was right because it got the right attention.
Retaliating to the comments by the members of Hockey India, the Indian Team said in unity that they had seen no accounts from Hockey India. A member of Team India said, "Hockey India still owes us dues from last year. Since they have no money for us for the World Cup, we are willing to play World Cup on our own money. We will bear all the expense. If they have no money, they should resign. Leave alone everything, they have given us no assurance as yet.". (Read: Players - We'll play World Cup at own expense)
The team revealed that the Federation had promised Rs 1 Crore for podium finish at World Cup. Adrian D'Souza said: "We've asked to meet Sahara (the sponsors), we've asked for the accounts, we've asked to see where the money has gone, but we haven't got anything till now"
Earlier in day, prior to the meeting between players and Hockey India, the Punjab government and the Madhya Pradesh government had put their hands up in support of the team and decided to meet all their demands. (Read: Madhya Pradesh offers help)
Punjab Dy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal who is president of Punjab Hockey Federation said, "Punjab govt is willing to take all responsibilities, expenditures, training of all the players. We are willing to take on all the expenses and the training if they send the camp to the Punjab govt." (Campaign: Join the petition)
The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had also said that the State government was willing to bear the expenditure for increased payment and training for players of Indian National Hockey team. (India 4 Hockey: Here's how you can help)
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