Kalmadi wants hockey, football in the 'Priority' List

New Delhi, Sept 10: Lauding the fine show by national hockey players and footballers in winning the Asia Cup and Nehru Cup respectively, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalamadi today asked the Sports Ministry to ''re-instate'' both the games into the 'Priority' List.

''Football and hockey teams have performed exceedingly well by winning the Nehru Cup and the Asia Cup respectively.

''Sports Ministry should re-instate both football and hockey into the Priority List once again,'' Mr Kalmadi, who is also chairman of 2010 Commonwealth Games Oraganising Committee, said in a statement.

Hockey and Football had been demoted from Priority to General List in May.

''The Indian hockey team has delivered a fitting reply to all those who had sought to bring its morale down,'' Mr Kalmadi said.

India outplayed South Korea 7-2 in the final of the seventh Asia Cup hockey tournament in Chennai yesterday.

And a few weeks ago, Indian football team beat a higher ranked Syrian team in the final here to win the Nehru Cup football tournament.

Earlier in the day, Parliament congratulated the Indian hockey team for winning the Asia Cup and also noted the fine performance of the football team in recent weeks.

When Mr Kalmadi brought up the issue of both the games being re-instated into the Priority List, he was supported by senior IOA members Mr. Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, Mr Jagdish Tytler and Mr Vijay Kumar Malhotra.

Sensing the general mood of the House on the sporting success, Speaker Somnath Chaterjee noted that since the Parliament seemed to be of the unanimous view in this matter (re-instating in Priority List), the Sports Ministry should take note of this.

Mr Kalmadi congratulated the hockey players and coaches, the Indian Hockey Federation and its President KPS Gill for the wonderful performance.

''Even as we are struggling to get grants and competitions stints and approval for foreign coaches cleared, the Sports Ministry has been adding to our woes by playing different games.

''In recent meetings with National Federations and State Olympic Associations, we have found that virtually every federation is upset with Ministry's decision to have a Regulatory Authority,'' he said.

''I am proud that all our sportspersons are doing well, whether it is in shooting, billiards, boxing or swimming and now football and hockey. What else does the Ministry want? All this is without proper ammunition, late clearances of teams and delay in getting good foreign coaches. Imagine what we can do with proper support,'' added the MP from Pune.

UNI