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After Pargat another ex-Olympian Ashok blames Kalmadi
for hockey mess in India
Bhopal, January 26 (Pervez Bari): The Indian sports managers mud-slanging
continues as sportspersons suffer. Close on the heels of former hockey
Olympian and India's former captain Pargat Singh another ex-Olympian Ashok
Kumar has reportedly held Indian Olympic Association, (IOA), chief Suresh
Kalmadi responsible for all the mess in Indian hockey and also for the
postponement of the February 7 Hockey India, (HI), elections.
Ashok, son of yesteryears legendry Indian hockey player Major Dhyanchand, said
that because Kalmadi was lobbying to get the HI top post, elections for the
hockey body were being deferred repeatedly.
Ashok, who is presently chief coach in the Bhopal-based Madhya Pradesh Hockey
Academy, said that the ad-hoc committee of HI should also be equally blamed
for the postponement of the elections and also for the present condition of
hockey in the country.
He pointed out that the ongoing protest of Indian women hockey team players
against HI over the non-payment of their dues and shabby treatment meted out
to them is a classic example of HI's lackadaisical approach towards India's
national game.
It may be mentioned here that the Indian women hockey team instead of stopping
to play have been sporting black arm-bands since Thursday last while going
through their practice schedule at the national training camp in Bhopal in the
Sports Authority of India's Central Regional Centre here in protest against
non-payment of their dues and other benefits accrued to them being by Hockey
India.
Meanwhile, on Saturday last ex-Olympian Pargat Singh had launched a scathing
attack on Kalmadi, calling him a "sports mafia" who is trying to become the
Hockey India chief by hook or crook.
It was for the first time in the last two decades that Kalmadi has been
challenged by a sportsperson of Pargat's stature who has taken the IOA
president head on.
Pargat had said the hockey regime under KPS Gill was far better than the
current regime and claimed that it's Kalmadi who is calling the shots in the
present set-up.
"Let's have it on one-to-one basis and see how popular he (Kalmadi) is. He has
made a mockery of hockey. He is a destructive and greedy mind", an agitated
Pargat had told media persons.
However, Kalmadi rubbishing former captain Pargat Singh's allegation that he
is hell bent on becoming the Hockey India president, had said he is so
pre-occupied with this year's Commonwealth Games that he simply doesn't have
the time or interest for the HI job.
"I am the President of the Indian Olympic Association and Chairman of the
Organizing Committee of the Commonwealth Games, which keeps me fully occupied.
I have no time or interest in taking over hockey," Kalmadi had said in a
statement.
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