Ministry refuses aid to hockey squad

New Delhi, Aug 14: The sports ministry has refused to pick up the tab for the 20-member developmental' team, scheduled to participate in...

New Delhi, Aug 14: The sports ministry has refused to pick up the tab for the 20-member developmental’ team, scheduled to participate in the Four-nation Panasonic Masters beginning at Hamburg (Germany) on August 21, despite several requests by the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF).

“They (Sports Minstry) have refused to pay even the air fare, which has been the normal practice for the past few years. We are trying to make alternate financial arrangements,” IHF president KPS Gill said.

He said the ministry did not give any specific reasons for clearing the trip at “no cost to the government”. “They just said it is not in their overall policy,” he said.

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The ministry had paid the team’s air fare for the same tournament last year when a second-string team was sent under coach Pargat Singh. The bottom-place finish in last year’s edition, along with the poor performance in the Utrecht World Cup, are cited as reasons for the ministry’s decision.

The ministry’s decision has put the IHF in a spot with theteam’s departure slated for Monday night. The Federation had also planned a couple of practice matches on August 19 and 20 against Germany, but given the financial constraints now, the team’s departure may be delayed.

The IHF, meanwhile, is left with no choice but to arrange the money, as withdrawal from the tournament at this moment may invite strictures from the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

FOUR-NATION PANASONIC MASTERS (Match schedule):

August 21: India vs Germany, South Korea v The Netherlands

August 22: India v The Netherlands, Germany v South Korea

August 23: India v South Korea, Germany v The Netherlands