Thursday, January 21, 2010

Hockey India to give Rs 50,000 each to women players

NEW DELHI: The Indian women hockey team's silent protest over the non-payment of their dues seemed to have worked with Hockey India deciding toHockey India to give Rs 50,000 each to women players immediately release cash reward of Rs 50,000 each for the players of the ongoing national camp in Bhopal.

HI interim president Vidya Stokes told reporters here that apart from Rs 50,000, the ad-hoc national body has requested the government to give each player Rs one lakh for their silver medal winning performance in last year's Asia Cup in Bangkok and gold in the inaugural Champions Challenge I in Kazan, Russia.

"We have requested the Sports Ministry to give each women player Rs one lakh as reward for their silver medal in Asia Cup," Stokes said.

"But as of now, we (HI) are immediately giving Rs 50,000 each all the 19 players of the camp for their outstanding performance last year."

"I have spoken to the coach and captain and they are very happy. We will issues the cheques as early as possible, she added.

Following in the footsteps of their male counterparts, the Indian women hockey players on Thursday protested the non-payment of their dues by wearing black armbands during the training session of Commonwealth Games preparatory camp in Bhopal.

The protesting women players have not received their dues since April last year, and hence the core group decided to sport black bands in protest in contrast against the men's team's move to go on strike.

The team has also opened a savings account in Bhopal branch of the Syndicate Bank and has asked hockey loving fans all over the country to support their cause.

TOI

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