IOA president Suresh Kalmadi today said that there was need for a re-look at the state of hockey in the country and that he would “have a talk with the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) chief regarding this.” He was replying to a question from this correspondent at a general briefing regarding the future of the national sport.

“Hockey is a sport we must all take care of because it is our national sport,” said Kalmadi. “The president of the FIH (the international body of the sport), Madam Els van Breda Vriesman, met me here and we discussed ways and means to improve the sport in the country and I think her idea of getting the 2009 World Cup to India is good.”

That, though, depends on the sponsors, and with Sahara having pulled out (of its sponsorship deal with the FIH) already it leaves a gap. Kalmadi stated that talk was on with another Indian company, possibly Indian Oil, in this regard.

That means the IHF is now hardly in a position to dictate terms, and that many more agencies are coming to its ‘help’. Indian men finished a face-saving fifth at the Games today, with a 4-0 victory over Malaysia in the play-off.

Kalmadi also admitted that there was actually an acute shortage of ammunition for Indian shooters in the country.

“I know Jaspal (Rana) has complained about the lack of ammunition, and we must look into this. I have heard that the Chinese get buckets full of ammunition to practice with. Unless you get the proper facilities, you cannot reach the top levels,” he said.

... contd.