HOCK 3LST

Meanwhile, Indian Hockey Federation president KPS Gill
Wednesday offered an olive branch to the IOA and Hockey India
to sit together and find a solution to the hockey mess.
The Sports Ministry Tuesday issued a statement that it
would work to obtain co-operation of both the IHF and HI in
the best interest of hockey in the country, and Gill felt all
the parties should start working on this basis.
"I don't want to go into a debate on any issue. There has
been lot of mudslinging going on. It won't help and only
hockey will suffer. The most realistic way out now is to sit
together and thrash out the issues," Gill said.
"Cases have been pending in seven High Courts now. It is
in a very bad shape. So, let us get together and if we do so I
think we can thrash it out in a week," he added confidently.
The combative former super cop said he was happy that the
government seemed to be taking a lead role, though belatedly,
to try and reconcile the two national hockey bodies.
"I am happy with the government's statement yesterday, it
is a positive thing. Had the government taken the step two
months back the problems would have been sorted out by now.
But at least the government has taken the lead now and we
should start from there," he said. PTI