‘Hockey champs deserve better’

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The Asian Champion Indian hockey team’s refusal to accept the prize money of `25,000 offered by Hockey India made sports minister Ajay Maken intervene and increase the cash prize to `1.5 lakhs. The sports fraternity feels it’s high time sportspersons other than cricketers are given due respect, facilities and honour.
Chess grandmaster Tania Sachdev calls the reward money ‘ridiculous’ and says, “These players have slogged so hard and have won this major championship and brought laurels to the country, this is how Hockey India treats them? For those who give their life to the game, this sum is too low. They deserve better and the team did the right thing by refusing it. In our country, comparing any sport to cricket is unfair. If hockey or any other sport doesn’t get the right support, how will it attract youth? More so, youngsters in the country believe that other than cricket, no other sport pays well. So, they utilise sports only to gain admissions in colleges through sports quota.”
She adds, “Winning the Asian Championship is a big achievement, and if this feat of players can’t be acknowledged, it’s really sad.”
However, former cricketer Saba Karim says it’s not fair to compare cricket to other sports. “These are two separate issues. The Indian hockey team has done a commendable job in winning the Asian Championship against Pakistan and it’s made us proud. I do believe if you want to encourage new blood into the game, it’s important to improve infrastructure and facilities. Cash incentives will spur players to achieve more glory in the field of hockey. BCCI is a private body that manages cricket and it pays them accordingly. This comparison does not bode well for other games.”
A team effort if not acknowledged can affect the morale of the players, it’s unfortunate when a popular sport has it all while others are struggling to find their footing in their own country. Footballer Jeje Lalpekhlua was initially shocked when he learnt that the hockey players were offered `25,000 as reward. He said, “It’s really sad for players who give their all to the game and in return aren’t acknowledged. It’s far too small an amount for individual players. I agree with the team’s decision. When we won the SAFF Cup in 2009, we were awarded `1 lakh individually. I strongly believe that other sports should be encouraged in the country.”
It’s all about right marketing, feels Asian Games gold medallist Rishi Narain, founder, Rishi Narain Golf Management Pvt Ltd and adds, “What is `1.5 lakh going to do for a player? I do believe the team would also have won some money with the trophy, but Hockey India should give atleast `20-25 lakh to each player, it needs to market their sport better and attach a commercial aspect to the game. Golf players earn respectable amount because it’s marketed well. The Asian Hockey champions certainly deserved better.”