Start summit talks with sports: Uma

If cricket figures in the summit talks between Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, hockey should also be discussed, Sports Minister Uma Bharti said on Saturday.

"I will urge the Prime Minister to start the talks with sports... because sports lays the foundation for good relations between countries," Bharti told reporters in Delhi.

"Not just cricket, but hockey should also find a mention during the wide-ranging talks," Bharti said.

"Hockey is the next popular game in the country after cricket. I will request the Prime Minister to discuss the clashing of dates of the Afro-Asian Games and the Champions Trophy hockey with Musharraf," the minister said.

The dates of the November 3-11 Afro-Asian Games are clashing with Champions Trophy and World Tennis doubles championship.

While the dates of the tennis tournament are in the process of being shifted, the hockey issue remains unresolved, which means the two top teams, Pakistan and South Korea, will be sending their B teams for the Afro-Asian Games.

"We cannot accept 'B' teams, because a win over those would be meaningless," Bharti said.

Bharti also revealed that she has initiated a unique sports exchange programme with France to boost the prospects of football, the third most popular game in India.

"After speaking to the French ambassador on the issue, I sent a proposal to the French Sports Ministry suggesting that they send football coaches to India in exchange of hockey coaches from here," she said.