Non-Payment: Hockey players resume strike

Pune, Jan 11: Despite reaching a reported truce with the governing body Hockey India (HI), the national team on Monday, Jan 11 resumed their indefinite boycott protesting the non-payment of dues.

On Saturday, Jan 9, the team met HI officials in New Delhi. However, on Sunday, Jan 10, the team decided to resume the strike.

“We are not training from this morning. We are waiting for Hockey India officials to arrive. We came to know that Hockey India officials are coming to meet the team. The team will have a meeting with them and let"s see what happens," said senior forward Prabhjot Singh.

The players are demanding incentives for their performance in 2009.

“Hopefully, things will be resolved by this evening. If all the boys are satisfied with the outcome, we will end the strike immediately," Singh, who has been elected by the team as the representative, added.

HI officials on Sunday, Jan 10 expressed disapproval over the player's decision to resume the agitation. The treasurer Narinder Batra accused them of blackmailing the Federation and holding the nation to ransom.

“They talked about insurance cover, graded systems and even the alleged poor quality of food they had at the Pune camp. We told them what we can immediately do. We even agreed to compensate for the poor food," Batra said.

OneIndia News