Team sponsor to solve the payment dispute in Hockey India

New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) With no solution in sight to the
payment dispute that has rocked Indian hockey, team sponsor
Sahara on Wednesday decided to release Rs one crore
immediately to be distributed only among the striking players
in a bid to resolve the crisis.

"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 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," it added.
Indian hockey slumped to one of its worst crises ever
when the 22 probables for World Cup stopped training at the
Belawadi Sports Complex in Pune on Friday in protest against
their pending financial dues and incentives.
The strike was, however, called off on Saturday after six
players held a marathon meeting with HI officials here.
But the truce didn't even last for a day with the players
deciding to resume their strike again from Monday as they were
not satisfied with the assurances given by HI.
The scenario turned uglier yesterday when the striking
players walked out of negotiations with HI, prompting the
angry administrators to serve a fresh 48-hour ultimatum to the
campers to resume training or get axed from the World Cup
squad. PTI SSC
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