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It's war, in women's hockey federation

Indian Women's Hockey Federation senior vice president Kaushalya Atmaram lambasted her own federation officials for the degradation of the game during the past four years, culminating in the country's disastrous performance at the Utretch World Cup.

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Atmaram held IWHF president Vidya Stokes and general secretary Amrit Bose responsible for India's uninspiring results at various international tournaments, even though the team members gave improved performances.

Former IWHF president A Dhamania was also present at the press conference.

Atmaram charged that the IWHF officials failed to provide facilities to the girls like proper accommodation, kit and food. ''Besides, the team has no physical trainer, doctor or psychologist,'' she added.

Atmaram felt that no effort was made to attract proper sponsorship for the country to participate in international tournaments, thus depriving the side of requisite practise.

The IWHF senior vice-president alleged that the the federation had been, during the build up to the World Cup, stressing more on training camps and had ignored the holding of annual national tournaments, which is mandatory. ''Out of a total of 16 tournaments during the four years, only seven were organised.''

The 49th senior nationals, which were to begin from August one this year, were postponed keeping in mind the national camp schedule from June 21 to July 31. If the tempo of the game was to be maintained and the players were to perform better, nationals should never be postponed, she felt.

Atmaram's reaction comes three days after chief coach Balbir Singh resigned in disgust. He blamed the IWHF for not treating the players well.

Asked whether she agreed with the charges made by Balbir, especially regarding IWHF officials not paying the girls their due pocket money, Atmaram refused to make any comment. She however, said that she was "sympathetic to Balbir.''

Dhamania for her part said that the IWHF president and general secretary were not involved with the game as they were never seen with the players when the team was playing during the World Cup. ''They, Stokes and Bose, were never around when the girls were playing," she charged. "They were instead busy attending meetings, when the girls could have benefitted from the morale booster of visible support from their officials."

Dhamania, who is a member of the Federation of International Hockey (FIH) was also present at the World Cup. She said the girls played very well, but lacked strategy, adding, "However, while other teams had the best of facilities, we were not even allowed to take a doctor along."

Asked about Balbir, she said it was unfortunate that a coach was made to resign. "It is a sorry state of affairs where we do not have a physical trainer, psychologist or a doctor,'' the former Indian hockey player said.

Referring to team selection, Atmaram pointed out that it was amazing that selection for international tournaments was made without regular nationals being held, with the result that hardly any fresh blood was inducted in the team.

She charged that the selection for international participation was mostly confined between the president, the general secretary and the coach. No other state president or state representative was asked to be present, and if anyone was ever asked to be with the players in the camp to observe their game, she was not asked to be present at the time of the selection and the team announcement.

Atmaram charged that all important decisions were taken at the president-general secretary level, and that no executive member was consulted when deciding whether or not, for instance, to raise loans for participation at Harare.

Despite its being common knowledge that business houses were not coming forward to promote women's sports, and hockey in particular, no special effort was made to woo sponsors, the IWHF official, adding that if concerted efforts were made, corporate help would have been forthcoming.

The lackadaisical attitude of the officials, Atmaram said, was effecting the game on all fronts. For instance, she pointed out, in the past, there were five women umpires from India on the FIH panel, now there were none. Madhu Yadav's name had been sent to the FIH in 1994 itself, but there was no follow up and she lost out, Atmaram said. This, she said, came as contrast to even small nations like Singapore, which had four, five officials on different FIH commitees.

About the merger of the IWHF with the Indian Hockey Federation by the turn of the century as directed by the FIH, Atmaram said that besides cursorily discussing the suggestion, nothing further had been done. "A merger will be good for both the federations, as we could combine our talents and resources and promote Indian hockey and make it world class," she said.

The IWHF's four-year term has expired, and the election for the new managing committee is scheduled to be held in Shimla on August 17. Atmaram will contest the presidentship, against incumbent Vidya Stokes.