When Mamta Kharab’s team failed to grab a berth for the Beijing Games at the qualifiers in Russia, coach MK Kaushik was quick to put the blame on the poor fitness levels of the team.
Women’s hockey skipper Mamta Kharab defends the fitness levels of her team during the Olympic qualifiers
MUMBAI: When Mamta Kharab’s team failed to grab a berth for the Beijing Games at the qualifiers at Kazan in Russia, coach MK Kaushik was quick to put the blame on the poor fitness levels of the team.
Question the Indian women’s hockey skipper on the issue and she has a sharp retort. “If we were unfit, why were we selected in the first place? The blame then ought to be on the selectors! It is just a lame excuse coming from the federation,” Kharab told DNA on the sidelines of the Gold Cup event here. Kharab admits that four players were injured. “Their injuries were not serious though and the rest of us, including me, were 100 per cent fit,” she added.
So, what is the reason behind the dismal show?
“We dominated the first 60 minutes. But we failed to score goals. We couldn’t capitalize on our chances. We were unable to convert penalty corners and that too so many of them! This cost us dearly,” Kharab said.
The women’s team have also not been treated shabbily. They were not paid their dues over the past few months till, out of desperation, the team members complained.
“The sponsors had stopped payment. Hockey is in a sorry state. I don’t blame cricket or any other sport, but where is the money in our sport? Something needs to be done urgently,” Kharab added.
Ask her about the dissolution of the IHF and the sacking of KPS Gill and she minces no words.
“It’s good for Indian Hockey that people like him have been thrown out. The Jothikumaran incident (where in the IHF secretary was caught on camera accepting money) was a shame. Such incidents shouldn’t recur.”
Moving on and talking about what needs to be gone to help women’s hockey, Kharab said that the team needs to get more exposure. “The infrastructural support is also poor. The federation needs to look into the needs of the players. And the sports ministry should support the Federation.”
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