MP govt to bear expenses of hockey team

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday said the state government was willing to bear the expenditure for increased payment and training for players of the Indian hockey team.

The Chief Minister made the offer at a meeting in which he reviewed the functioning of the state sports department, an official release said.

Chouhan also said steps for implementing the offer would be taken soon.

The offer assumes importance as the national hockey players have boycotted the camp for the World Cup and have demanded increased payment.

The national players on Friday had boycotted the ongoing World Cup preparatory camp in Pune for an indefinite period in protest against non-payment of their dues.

The dispute, however, was resolved after a marathon meeting between six senior members of the national team and top Hockey India officials, in Mumbai, only to be intensified later.