India men's hockey team striker Lalit Upadhyay has worked hard to rebuild his career and considers all the setbacks as blessings in disguise.
Suspended secretary of the disbanded Indian Hockey Federation K Jothikumaran on Friday filed a suit against the television channel, that did a sting operation on him, claiming damages of Rs 25 lakh.
Indian Hockey Federation secretary-general K Jothikumaran, who quit after being shown accepting cash in a television sting operation, claimed that he is innocent and accused the news channel of deliberately distorting his discussions. "I find that the entire discussions were recorded stealthily, willfully distorted and maliciously edited to show an entirely wrong picture," Jothikumaran said in a statement.
Hockey India (HI) will continue to run the game in the country despite Indian Hockey Federation's revival by the Delhi High Court, secretary Narinder Batra said on Saturday.
The Indian Olympic Association on Monday suspended the Indian Hockey Federation and said it will be replaced by an ad-hoc commission, comprising five former Olympians.
The IHF, on Tuesday, accepted the resignation of K Jothikumaran from the post of secretary- general, who quit after a television channel aired video clips of him accepting a bribe to induct a player in the national squad.
A fresh controversy erupted in Indian hockey on Monday with a television news channel claiming to have done a sting operation in which IHF secretary-general K Jothikumaran was purportedly shown receiving cash for getting a player included in the senior team.
Sports minister M S Gill on Wednesday provided men's hockey in the country a new lease of life by upgrading it to the 'Priority' category, along with seven other disciplines. He also named former Olympians Ajit Pal Singh and Zafar Iqbal as 'Government Observers' in the selection committee of the Indian Hockey Federation.
It is shameful and I have no words to condemn such an act. We will seriously consider taking action against him.
The Indian hockey team will attend a 10-day training camp in Germany for the Champions Challenge tournament.
Former captain Dhanraj Pillay said the Indian hockey team was lacking on all fronts.
The experienced midfielder was a surprise omission from the 16-member Indian men's hockey team for the Doha Asian Games.
Gagan Ajit Singh and Vikram Pillay failed to find a place in the list of probables for the Doha Asian Games.
Most likely Jugraj will be treated either in Australia, South Africa or Germany," IHF secretary K Jothikumaran said.
Pakistan, Australia, Malaysia and India may use the September-scheduled tournament to prepare for the Champions Trophy in December.
The national federations had planned to hold the eight-match Test series on a home-and-away basis during March and April.
The IHF senior vice-president said he would initiate legal action if any constitutional amendment is done without following proper procedure.
The German has taken up a new assignment with the national team of Egypt.
The second edition of the League, to be played in January in Chandigarh, will see several innovations in the rules.
Teams for the hockey World Cup and SAFF Games would be announced on August 16.
After 80 per cent of the votes were cast, Batra objected to some 'identification mark' beside KPS Gill's name on the ballot paper
The respondents were asked to file replies to IHF senior vice-president Batra's petition, alleging financial irregularities in the IHF and other charges.
The IHF's senior vice-president accused Gill of committing financial irregularities.
The senior IHF vice-president threatened legal action if Gill does not step down immediately.
The German was axed after the team slumped to fourth in the Champions Trophy hockey tournament.
Prabodh Tirkey will lead the 16-member Indian hockey team at the seven-nation junior Challenger tournament starting in Poland.
Former Olympians Gurbux Singh, B P Govinda, Aslam Sher Khan and Surinder Singh Sodhi were named in a seven-man team.
The Council looks into the game at grassroot level and is responsible for its subsequent global development.
'Jugraj wanted us to win all the matches and he was talking to us regularly,' said captain Dhanraj Pillay.
The IHF also clarified that Baljit Singh Saini could not make it with the team to the US as he did not get the visa.
The 2005 edition of the elite nations' tournament will be staged in Chennai.\n\n
The government is not happy with my work and does not want to spend money on the German coach.
IHF secretary Jothikumaran said the team is finalised but Gill would make the announcement.
India has committed to host the Dutch team for a Test series around the same time.
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