Source: Hueiyen News Service / Agencies
New Delhi, January 15 2010:
Indian hockey team sponsor Sahara today came out in support of the agitating players and announced to release Rupees one crore immediately for the national team.
Sahara's stand came at a time when both Hockey India (HI) and the players were adamant in their stand even as the national team continued to boycott practice sessions at Pune demanding a written assurance from the federation regarding their pending dues.
''In the genuine interest of the national hockey players, Sahara India Pariwar has decided to pay immediately Rs 1 Crore in suspense account to Hockey India, only for distribution to the players so that they can peacefully and happily practice and play for the country,'' Sahara India said in a statement.
''Sahara has also paid Rs 77 lacs in December as advance for the quarter of January 15 to April 14, 2010.Sahara will go through the past accounts of Hockey India and shall take suitable decision for this amount,'' the statement added.
Indian hockey became engulfed in one of its worst crises ever when the 22 probables for the upcoming World Cup stopped training at the Belawadi Sports Complex in Pune last Friday in protest against non payment of their pending financial dues and incentives.
However, they called off their protest the next day after six senior players held a marathon meeting with HI officials here.
But the truce didn't even last for a day with the players yet again deciding to resume their strike again from Monday as they were not satisfied with the assurances given by the HI, and wanted a written statement from the officials.
The situation took a ugly turn yesterday after the agitating players walked out of negotiations with the oficials, prompting the angry administrators to serve a fresh 48-hour ultimatum to the players to resume training or be left out of the World Cup squad.