Kalmadi announces Rs 1 lakh each for players, support staff
PTI, Mar 1, 2010, 04.10am IST
NEW DELHI: The Indian players and the support staff would be rewarded with Rs one lakh each for the superb 4-1 win over Pakistan in their hockey World Cup opening match, Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi announced on Sunday.
A delighted Kalmadi patted the players and coach Jose Brasa for the thrilling win against Pakistan.
"The players played really well. It is a great start in the tournament. What (former coach) Ric Charlesworth could not not do Brasa has done. Full credit to Brasa and the players. They will be given Rs 1 lakh each," Kalmadi said after the match.
Experienced forward Prabhjot Singh, who scored a goal, said it was like celebrating 'Holi' a day in advance.
"We were delighted to win the match, we played as a team. It is like celebrating "Holi' in advance," Prabhjot said after the match.
Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, who scored two goals, was happy to have contributed to the team's cause and said his side will have to now think of playing Australia.
"I am happy to have scored twice and helped the team win. It is great feeling but we have a tough match against Australia on Tuesday. Australia are a very strong side though they lost to England today. We have a job at hand," said Sandeep, whose birthday fell on Saturday.
Pakistan striker Rehan Butt, who scored thrice in his side's 6-3 win against India when the two sides met last time in Argentina last December, said he was a bit surprised by the Indian domination.
"Yes, I would say I was a bit surprised. India played really well. If India maintain this form they will surely reach the semifinals," he said.
"We are still in the tournament. We can bounce back still. We have to improve our performance and we can beat any side on our day. If we also reach semifinal it will be great for Asian hockey," said Rehan, who is known as 'rat' for his goal-poaching abilities especially against India.
Meanwhile, Sahara India Pariwar also announced a reward of Rs 2 lakh for every player, coach and assistant coach of the Indian hockey team.
"The way Indian hockey players have played is fantastic. Sahara India Pariwar chairman Subrata Roy had earlier promised that if the Indian team come out with good performance in the World Cup, he will reward the players," Abhijit Sarkar, chief corporate communication officer of Sahara, said.
"We are very proud that India has won their opening match against Pakistan in a grand and convincing manner. Sahara India Pariwar is announcing Rs 2 lakh for each player, coach and assistance coach as a token of appreciation and love," Sarkar added.
I am all praise for the sustained campaign undertaken on TV for the promotion of hockey and am happy that we have won our first game convincingly.
I myself played hockey in school and college and enjoyed the game.
But aren't we going overboard when we announce a reward of Rs 1.00 lakh per player for winning the first match.
Now was this reward for just winning or for winning against our arch rivals, Pakistan, or are we so afraid that we may not win any other matches that we would like to enjoy our little celebrations?
I agree that our hockey players are poor cousins of cricketers and I do not grudge them the money they receive. Rather, I am happy they are earning mullahs and it may help them to strive harder.This is in context to the little problem they had with the IHF on the eve of their joining camp.
But announcing rewards at the spur of the moment, without having a firm policy sounds foolish.
If the IHF could formulate a policy of rewarding each player according to the outcome of a match, loss - draw or win and with how many goals for or against, it would look better.
But, this sudden action makes it appear that we have gone overboard at our joy at beating Pakistan. This is very very bad for any game.
People should play to win but also enjoy the game and the win should not be "at any cost". That breeds enemity.
And remember, this is the first match.
There are at least 10 more matches before we can called world champions and behaving like this makes us look like minnows.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment