That is what one could gather going by the charges levelled against the present set of IWHF officials by Kaushalya Atmaram, herself a senior vice-president in the federation and president of the Chandigarh unit, at a press meet in the Capital today. She will be contesting the post of president this time. ``I have the support of about 16 units,'' she said.Kaushalya put the blame for the degradation of women's hockey in the country entirely on the present secretary.

Kaushalya, in fact, had supported the present chief of the IWHF, Vidya Stokes when elections were held four years ago. ``Sadly, the last four years have been a painful experience and an eye-opener,'' she said as she gave instances of themishandling of each event by the present officials.

Atmaram lambasted her own federation officials for the degradation of the game during the past four years culminating in the country's disastrous performance at the Utretch World Cup, where the Indian team finished last.

She held IWHF president Vidya Stokes and general secretary Amrit Bose responsible for the country's present plight and the uninspiring results at various international tournaments even though the team members ``gave improved performances.''

Atmaram charged that the IWHF officials ``failed to provide facilities to the girls like proper accommodation, kit and food.'' ``Besides, the team has no physical trainer, doctor or a psychologist,'' she complained.

No effort was made to attract proper sponsorship for the country to participate in international tournaments, she said. She further alleged that the IWHF had been during the period stressing more on training camps and ignored the holding of annual national tournaments, which ismandatory.

The 49th Senior Nationals, which were to begin from August 1 this year, were postponed keeping in mind the national-camp-schedule from June 21 to July 31. The IWHF senior vice-president accused the present secretary of ``not consulting other members'' and ``invariably representing the country herself at all major international events.''

Atmaram emphasised the need to have more members from India on FIH panels and for proper ``utilisation of the services of people like Satinder Walia and Dilip Pinge who have immense knowledge of the game.''

She also spoke about the indifferent attitude of the president and secretary towards the `merger issue.' Kaushalya Atmaram also released a manifesto on the occasion which spoke of the several measures she would take to ``restore women's hockey to its past glory.''