Sponsors who have shown interest want a proper fee structure.
NEW DELHI: The ad hoc committee running Indian hockey reportedly is in the process of a re-structuring that will ensure better pay for players as well as a more robust training and competition schedule running up to the Commonwealth Games.
Apart from the money coming in from the government on account of training expenses for the Commonwealth Games to be hosted by New Delhi in 2010, the officials are expecting at least two big sponsors to pitch in and lift their two-year programme budget to around Rs. 25 crore.
According to sources, the two corporate houses who have shown interest, want an assurance that the money will filter down to players with a proper fee structure in place. They are reportedly wary of handing over the money without a plan in place, especially since hockey affairs have been a muddled affair.
The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), headed by Mr. KPS Gill, had been suspended earlier this year by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). An ad hoc committee, headed by the IOA chief, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, took charge of running the game. The suspended IHF officials later challenged the decision in the Delhi High Court.
The ad hoc committee, convened by Aslam Sher Khan, is also looking to support the team with a professional set up of support staff including a physiotherapist, computer analyst and a head coach. “We want to sort out these issues soon and hope our plans are not affected by court hassles,” said an official.
The performances of the junior men’s hockey teams have provided a ray of hope with their series win against Argentina last week as well as their earlier triumph in the Junior Asia Cup in Hyderabad.
Before that, India failed to qualify for this year’s Olympics Games.
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