Kalmadi announces substantial pay packet for women's hockey team - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi on Friday announced that the Sports Ministry has collected Rs 1 crore for the women's hockey team. It is reported that the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) has given the money to the Sports Ministry for the women's team. Earlier, the women's hockey team had said that they wanted to meet Kalmadi to discuss their incentives. The team staged an open revolt over non-payment of dues. The team, which is in Bhopal, is reportedly wearing black armbands in protest. Despite having a good run in 2009, the women's team did not receive incentives from Hockey India on grounds of paucity of funds. Hockey India President, Vidya Stokes January 19 statement that the women's team will not get any money angered the players, but they said they would continue to practice hard and bring laurels for their country in the upcoming tournaments.