State-level hockey players in Ludhiana playing on empty stomach

LUDHIANA - As Hockey World Cup is underway in New Delhi, some state-level Indian hockey players in Ludhiana are living under inappropriate conditions and yearning for their daily meals.

The players, all under-17, stay as residents in Guru Nanak stadium of Ludhiana. The Punjab Sports Department has taken up the responsibility to take care of food, lodging and training of these young boys.

But the players say they have not received food for the past three to four days and they have also been asked to arrange money from their homes.

“We haven’t eaten for the past three days. We don’t know how are we going to play or study. During winters it gets difficult to bear the cold wave as the windows are broken. There are no arrangements of water and toilets,” said Bhupinder Singh, hockey player.

The players feel that such situations will hamper their interest in the game.World Cup will be over but if such condition prevails, future hockey players will lose their interest in the playing the game,” added Singh.o the player’s relief, a team of social workers from a voluntary organisation in Ludhiana arranged foods for them.

“When we came and saw these boys, they seemed very hungry. We gave them food to eat. It is government’s responsibility. They shouldn’t have adopted them. These boys have been staying here for the past threee years and have been studying here.

Their exams are approaching but they are forced to clean the place where they stay…. If they continue to stay in such a condition, they will not remain physically fit and thus can never become good players,” said Johanni, hockey coach.

Senior hockey players of Ludhiana have also expressed their concern and condemned the state government’s attitude towards the junior players. (ANI)