Aiyar says no money was given IWHF

The Govt has not sanctioned any amount to the IWHF for purchase of kits and equipment while touring Australia.

When the Indian women's hockey team returned from a preparatory tour of Australia in January, there was a hue and cry about the Indian Women's Hockey Federation apparently not spending Rs 5 lakh - given by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) on player kits.

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However, in answer to a question in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, sports minister Mani Shankar Aiyar clearly stated that no such amount was sanctioned, or released by the ministry. "The government has not sanctioned any amount to the IWHF for purchase of kits and equipment while touring Australia," he said. He further said that while the government did provide assistance for procurement of equipment on a 75:25 sharing basis, no such proposal was received from IWHF.

IWHF secretary Amrit Bose had vehemently denied that the federation had received any monetary support from the ministry. Sports Authority of India's Executive Director (TEAMS) PC kashyap had, on January 21, asked Bose during a felicitation function for the team about the amount. "We never received any money, if the ED is saying this there has to be some written proof of the money being released, let him show the proof," she had said. Kashyap did not comment on the issue.