Hockey players receive payments after impasse

PUNE - Indian hockey players received their dues on Monday.

Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi handed over a cheque of Rupees one crore to the team.

Kalmadi distributed the individual payments in the company of Hockey India adviser Anupam Gulati.

“We promised to give them 1 crore rupees, so we have given them that amount. So the distribution has been done as per the number of the players,” said Kalmadi.

Kalmadi also supported the proposal of creating a Players’ Welfare Development Fund with Dhanraj Pillay in charge of it while assuring players that all of their outstanding issues would be resolved soon.

Meanwhile the captain of the team, Rajpal Singh said the team would now focus on the World Cup, which is to be held next month.

“Today Kalmadiji kept his promise. This boosted the morale of the players as they received their dues. And now we hope to focus on the world cup,” said Singh.

A crisis situation had developed on January 8 when the players refused to train at the camp insisting on advance payment of their dues.

The impasse was broken on January 13 after the former hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay and Kalmadi intervened. (ANI)