Madhya Pradesh CM clears dues of women hockey players

BHOPAL - Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has handed over an additional cheque of Rs 50 lakh to the national women’s hockey team.

Chauhan had earlier handed over a cheque worth Rs one crore to the Union Sports Ministry for clearing the dues of hockey players and promoting the game, but as that money is yet to reach the players, the chief minister handed over the cheque directly to the players.

The players have been waging a battle against discrimination meted out to them by Hockey India, by wearing black bands.

Hockey India president Vidya Stokes had on January 19 said that the women’s team will not get any money due to lack of funds. This had angered the players and they protested by wearing black bands.

Thanking the minister for his support, the team assured Chauhan that they would definitely try to improve the team’s world ranking.

“Even if people give one rupee, it is valuable to us as it is to support us, respect us. Just like the coach of ‘Chak de India’ supported the team and encouraged it to win the world, similarly Shivraj Chauhanji is supporting us and has been encouraging us to do well in the world cup. We have assured him that we will definitely do well and improve our world ranking,” said Surinder Kaur, a senior player of the women hockey team. (ANI)