President, Indian Olympic Association Image Credit: Gulf News archive
Pune/New Delhi: India's hockey crisis ended on Wednesday with the players agreeing to attend the World Cup camp on Thursday.
The players ended their boycott after Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi promised them immediate monetary relief and also agreed to consider their other demands.
Kalmadi rushed to the Balewadi Sports Complex yesterday morning after talks between Hockey India (HI) officials and players failed to break the deadlock over the payment dispute on Tuesday.
Sponsors Sahara also took a big step to end the impasse by deciding to immediately release Rs10 million for ‘distribution' among the players. Kalmadi assured the rebelling players, who were present when he addressed the media, that all their demands would be met.
"Hockey is our national game, not national shame. It has to be our national pride. I agree with most of their demands and I assure them full support," he said. "Some of their demands are short-term while others are broad based for which I will have to talk to the sports ministry and the elected HI. Most important thing for everyone is that players should focus on the World Cup and I am sure that we will win a medal," Kalmadi added.
India forward Deepak Thakur said Kalmadi has promised to clear a part of their dues in a week's time besides taking up the issue of a graded payment system for the players.
"He [Kalmadi] has assured us that our demands will be met. Their key demand, the graded payment to secure our future, should be taken up with the new set-up before the World Cup," he said.
Kalmadi said some positives have come out of the crisis that will help in setting up a benchmark for all Olympic sports in the country.
