Faced with unprecedented protest from senior hockey players against the 'step-motherly treatment' meted out to them, the Karnataka government on Wednesday night announced a reward of Rs two lakh to each of the four hockey players and a coach from the state, who were part of the Asia Cup winning Indian team.

Vikram Kanth, V Raghunath, S V Sunil and Ignace Tirkey and coach Ramesh Parameswaran are the players to benefit from the annoucement that came hours after national Chief Coach Joaquim Carvalho threatended to go on a hunger strike in front of Kumaraswamy's residence to protest the 'step-motherly treatment' meted out to them.

"I regret the lapse on my part. I thank hockey players for bringing it to my notice," said  Kumaraswamy, adding that he had made amends now. Carvalho had come down heavily on those states which announced rewards for T20 world champions but treated the Asia cup winning hockey players like 'orphans'.