Hockey crisis ends, players to resume practice

Delhi:

The hockey crisis that exercised India over the last one week has blown over, with the national team calling off its strike on an assurance that the players will be paid their dues at the earliest.

The players will join practice for the World Cup from Thursday. The World Cup will be held in Delhi from next month.

Former hockey star Dhanraj Pillay played an important role in breaking the ice between the players and Hockey India, the interim body that governs the sport.



Sources said all the demands of the players have been accepted and they will be paid at the earliest.



The permanent body of Hockey India, which will be elected in February, will introduce a grading system of payment in the sport, one of the key demands of the players.



Wednesday morning began on a note of promise after a dismal Tuesday when talks between the administration and the players had reached a new low. Dhanraj Pillay and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) chief Suresh Kalmadi reached Pune to talk to the players on strike and the ex-hockey captain said: Hopefully we should have some good news in a while."



Team sponsors Sahara India, meanwhile, decided to deposit Rs one crore immediately for the players.