New Delhi: The Indian Women's Hockey Federation today denied reports that the monthly stipend of national team players have been withheld for a long time.

IWHF Secretary Amrit Bose said payments of the players had been cleared upto last December and bills for January to April have been sent to the sponsors City Limouzines.

"The money is not given to us directly. The cheques come in players names. It is directly deposited in their bank accounts. It was delayed a bit for some reason. We have cleared cheques up to December 2007 and we have sent bills up to April to the sponsors," Bose told PTI.

"Players who do not have bank accounts have been handed cheques. Players who retire are replaced by new ones and cheques come in their names."
Bose rubbished media reports claiming that players had not been paid since July 2007.

"Some people draw sadistic pleasure out of such unnecessary criticism. Let people say whatever they want to say," she said.

Another IWHF official feared that such "negative reports" could affect the players who were preparing for the crucial Olympic qualifiers to be held in Kazan, Russia, from April 17.

"You just think about the players who are practising hard for the qualifiers. This will only have an adverse effect on them," she said.

Meanwhile, IWHF is yet to get clearance from Sports and External Affairs ministries to send its team to the qualifiers.

"We are concerned as we are yet to get clearance for the tour and we are yet to get visas. We need to complete these formalities as soon as possible," Bose said.
Source : PTI