Olympics: Rs 16.10 cr spent on hockey

New Delhi, Dec 8 (IBNS) As a part of preparation for Olympics, the Government has spent Rs 16.10 crore on hockey from April to 30th November, in various aspects of the game of hockey including foreign exposure, foreign coaches, boarding and lodging etc.

This was stated by Ajay Maken, Minister of State (I/C) for Youth Affairs & Sports, in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, in a written reply to a question by Shrimati Naznin Faruque.

Giving details, the Minister stated that Hockey is one of the disciplines identified for the 2012 London Olympic Games. As such Hockey is a high priority sport of the Government.

International standard training facilities and build up competitions are being provided for the preparation of the Indian Hockey team, said Maken.

Further Government not only provides all the necessary facilities including training, foreign exposures for training and competition, foreign and Indian coaches and other support personnel, etc. but also assesses the performance of the Indian Hockey players at periodic intervals, he said.

The Minister also informed that the Indian Hockey Men's team won the Gold Medal defeating Pakistan in the Asian Championship held in September, 2011 in China. As per the provisions of the Scheme of the Government, each player was awarded a sum of Rs.1,50,000.