02 March,2010 08:44 AM IST | | Ashwin Ferro
Former India hockey stalwart and presently the government's observer in the selection committee, Zafar Iqbal cleared the air as far as inviting former players to the ongoing FIH World Cup was concerned.
"I've got a lot of extra tickets with me especially for our former players," Iqbal said yesterday even as he opened up his coat to reveal his pockets filled with a bunch of match tickets.
"I've been trying to contact some of our Olympians and World Cuppers but would request the rest to get in touch with me. It's not possible for us to call up each and every former player," he added.
Cops collect coins
The Delhi police in their overenthusiastic security drive yesterday banned people from carrying any coins into the Dhyan Chand Stadium here. Anyone who had any coins whatsoever on their person had to deposit it in a basket at the entrance gates as a result of which the basket got full with coins in no time. Displaying exceptional efficiency the cops promptly replaced the full basket with an empty one. To this one scribe remarked: "From today we all can say that we have also contributed to the Delhi Police Welfare Fund."
No car by far!
The general public arriving to watch the World Cup matches have had to leave their cars at home or suffer the consequences of having to park it a good two-kilometres away from the Dhyan Chand Stadium and walk all the way, given the Delhi police's ban on traffic movement around the venue. Worse still autorickshaws refuse to come anywhere near the stadium citing police harassment. "The cops hit our vehicles with their dandas, if we stop anywhere near that area," complained one autowallah.
Media on a hat-trick
The world media contingent here to cover FIH World Cup hockey tournament is on a hat-trick. Sadly, this has nothing to do with any goals scored, but rather boycotts of press conferences.
Having been treated shabbily by the organisers here, who have barred their entry into the Dhyan Chand stadium for practice sessions, the scribes first boycotted FIH Communications Director Arjen Meijer's press meet last week and then staged a walk-out of FIH chief Leandro Negre's press briefing on Saturday. A shocked Negre tried to justify the problem. "The security is on high alert here due to a terror threat received and even I have had difficulties in entering the stadium," Negre said, even as the men from the fourth estate politely thanked him and left the room.
