NEW DELHI, Jan 10 A bitter dispute between India's leading hockey players and the game's administrators over non-payment of match fees was resolved late on Saturday after a marathon meeting, a news report said.
Settlement of the dispute means the national team can resume their preparations for the upcoming field hockey World Cup, which had been stalled after players boycotted a training camp in Pune because of the row.
Captain Rajpal Singh and five other senior players flew down from Pune to hold talks with top Hockey India officials before an amicable solution was reached with both sides “promising to move forward”, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.Hockey India president Ashok Mattoo told reporters the dispute was over but declined to elaborate on the financial details of the agreement with the players, PTI said.
“The issue has been resolved. Hockey India is for the development of hockey in the country. We had a meaningful dialogue and discussion with the players in free and fearless atmosphere,” Mattoo was quoted as saying.
“We have understood their issues. They have also understood our problems.
We both the parties have decided to move forward because right now World Cup is our first priority. I am confident of a podium finish in the World Cup.”
Rajpal said the players were ready to end their boycott and resume practice since all the issues had been resolved.
“We are going in for practice tomorrow. Whatever the problem was, has been solved. Our job is to play on the ground and the administrators' job is to look after all other issues,” Rajpal said, according to PTI.
India and arch-rivals Pakistan have been drawn together in Pool 'B' alongside Australia, Spain, England and South Africa in the 12-nation tournament to be played in New Delhi from Feb 28 to March 13.
Germany head Pool 'A', which includes the Netherlands, South Korea, New Zealand, Canada and Argentina.
The dispute came at a time when India have been struggling to revive their fortunes after failing to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.—AFP
