The hockey win was perhaps poetic justice: within days of Indian hockey supremo K P S Gill suffering a humiliating defeat in his bid to become the Asian Hockey Federation president, the Indian team which has been at loggerheads with the officialdom, was crowned champions of Asia.

Moments after India won its first hockey Asian Games gold medal in 32 years, K Jyotikumaran, the secretary-general of the Indian Hockey Federation, ran in to embrace to the captain Dhanraj Pillay. The same Jyotikumaran had, during half time of the Commonwealth gamessemi-final against Malaysia, abused Pillay.

Then there's Usha, who fought her way back into the team after two retirements and a host of injuries.

Led to believe that she was in the 4x400m relay foursome for the final, Usha got to know of her axing only the night before. The media, the other members of the team all knew well in advance, only she did not. Nothing can be more humiliating than such an insult to one of India's greatest sportspersons.

There are more tales of official indifference and highhandedness from Bangkok '98. Here are some:

Much of the kit for the Indian contingent got left behind in India. The truck bringing the stuff from Punjab took on a wrong route and was impounded at one of borders because of lack of right papers. By the time the truck was released and it reached Delhi, many teams and most IOA officials had already left for Bangkok.

Many Indian officials spent time in Bangkok lobbying for votes in the various Asian Federations elections. Chef-de-mission, G S Mander, gotelected as the vice-president of the Asian association, while K P S Gill lost in AHF elections.

The All India University has hardly produced any worthwhile talent in the last few years, yet at least two AIU officials were spotted in Bangkok.n At least three people were marked for Press Relations to provide information to Indian and foreign media. Not only were they unaware of precise numbers, the only press releases that were made available were invitations for three dinners and one about the election of G S Mander.

Not because there were not enough, perhaps because they were too many. Officially, there were ``about'' 240 participants and about 120 officials.But the `unofficial' figure could have been as high as 200 to 240. All sportspersons and officials cleared by the government get $50 a day for board and lodge and $25 as pocket money. The rest, including officials -- `at no cost to the government' -- are paid for by IOA, federations, employers or grateful senior officials, for whom someone pick upthe tab as a reward for `services rendered' or `votes cast in the past'. Since federations are often funded by government grants and employers in many cases are public sectors and government organisation, most of that money, belongs to the taxpayer.

``How can we stop the officials from coming here,'' asks Randhir Singh, the secretary-general of the Indian Olympic Association. ``We have not paid for them, and neither has the government.''

Most of these officials turn out in perfectly-fitting India blazers, while the athletes themselves wear old and multi-coloured track suits.

While IOA fighting for one Dingko was creditable, it is difficult to forget that Suresh Kalmadi and other IOA officials had insisted that men's and women's football teams were ``medal prospects''. The women conceded 36 goals -- seven against North Korea, 13 against Chinese Taipei an 16 against China -- and scored once in its three matches. The men's team, paid for by the IOA and the All India Football Federation, lost to Japan butbeat Nepal to make the second stage, where they lost all three matches.

The case of Kapil Modi's horse was even more hilarious. The rider and the mount were here in Bangkok for some time, but just a few days before the competition it was discovered the horse was not fit. Even a Russian doctor summoned to make the horse competition-fit could not help. So `medal-hope' Modi could not take part. In wrestling only Sujit Mann along came close to a medal; the canoeing and kayaking team reached a couple of finals, but ended way behind and last in some finals. Judo: ditto. Archery: same as above.

Off the record, many IOA officials admit that they have to accede to `pressure'. That may be of `favours granted earlier' or political alignments, since many officials are also ambitious politicians. Which explains how a football federation whose president is an influential politician like Priyaranjan Das Munshi gets his team to Bangkok.

India finishes ninth

India, with a haul of 35 medals comprising sevengold, 11 silver and 17 bronze medals, finished ninth in final medals table.China topped with a massive haul of 274 medals (129 gold, 78 silver and 67 bronze).South Korea (65-46-53) pushed 1994 (Hiroshima) runners-up Japan (52-61-68) to third place.