Our chances were sabotaged: Gill

“If they want to raise the standard of the game let them come forward and share the ideas with us. They are welcome,” said KPS Gill.

Reacting to the Olympians taking to the streets against him in New Delhi on Wednesday, the Indian Hockey Federation chief said: “It was in bad taste. In stead of taking to the streets, they should have come to my office which is always open.”

He agreed that the standard of Indian hockey has come down but felt that some people in the hockey fraternity are playing a dirty game.

Citing the example of Sandeep Singh, who was injured in a shooting incident, Gill said it may not have been an accident but a sabotage. “I know the weapons, and the manner Sandeep was shot is very clear it is a case of sabotage by some body to injure the best player in the Indian side. And all this has happened just few days before a big tournament. These former players say we are not doing our duty, but if such things happen nobody can do anything to raise the standard of the game.”