Accusations about the national game receiving step-motherly treatment are nothing new in India, but the 22 top hockey players in the country brought new meaning to rebellion when they announced that not one of them would take the field for practice yesterday
Accusations about the national game receiving step-motherly treatment are nothing new in India, but the 22
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A file picture of then Sandeep Singh with coach Jose Brasa (right) pose with the newly unveiled team Hockey India logo on July 23, 2009.
PIC/AFP |
top hockey players in the country brought new meaning to rebellion when they announced that not one of them would take the field for practice yesterday at the Balewadi Sports Complex where the pre-World Cup camp is currently on.
In a page taken from the 1998 controversy when six top stars led by the maverick and mercurial Dhanraj Pillay revolted against the administrative body for the shoddy reception at the Mumbai Airport after the team returned claiming an Asian Games gold medal after 32 years, these 22 hopefuls for the Indian World Cup squad refused to continue playing until Hockey India paid them their dues.
And, in a vast improvement from the 1998 revolt that led to Pillay and others being suspended briefly, these mutinous players have decided that none of them will budge. This means that if Hockey India does not sort out their grievances, it will have to cobble together a third or fourth rung squad for the most prestigious tournament being held in India this year.
"The other thing about our decision not to play until we are heard out properly is that it's brought us all so close together - all 22 of us," says custodian Adrian D'Souza.
Indian hockey camps before major tournaments are otherwise impaired by groupism and regionalism, with the Punjab camp, Orissa camp, South camp, etc often bickering or criticising a player from the other centres. This one's different. "This time we are united. We feel hockey players should get their due," D'Souza added.
Top on the list in their demands when they meet Hockey India officialsu00a0 in the Capital today is the release of incentives for the winning performances during the last couple of years and a three-tier player grading system where by players will receive structured salaries.
