Slamming the Centre and states for showering rewards on cricketers while ignoring the hockey team which lifted the Asia Cup recently, national coach Joaquim Carvalho said that he along with four players — Vikram Kanth, V Raghunath, S V Sunil and Ignace Tirkey — coach Ramesh Parameswaran and manager R K Shetty would sit on a hunger strike. “Why are hockey players being treated like orphans?” he said.

Carvalho criticised Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel’s decision to give cash rewards and out-of-turn promotions to cricketers in Air India and Indian Airlines, saying hockey players on the payrolls of the airlines got nothing. “Coach M P Singh, Gurbaj Singh, Bimal Lakra, Adrian D’Souza, Dilip Tirkey and captain Prabodh Tirkey are all employees of Air India and Indian Airlines,” he said.

“There is a competition on between politicians and state governments in announcing cash prizes for cricketers. Hockey is the national game and when we have won a big tournament like Asia Cup, why don’t governments and politicians recognise our triumph?” he said.

Former national hockey coach Vasudevan Baskaran: “I fully endorse this move by the players and coach. Surely the cricketers deserve what they are getting, the accolades, the money. But that does not mean you totally ignore players who bring in laurels from other disciplines. It is not a question of money. You can give us Rs 5 for all I care, but where is the recognition, where is the honour? The same Jharkhand government that has promised a surprise gift to Dhoni and the Jharkhand Ratna title has done nothing for Bimal Lakra and William Xalxo.”

IHF secretary K Jothikumaran distanced himself from the row. “The federation has nothing to do with this hunger strike or anything. Winning a trophy like the Asia Cup is an honour in itself, and federation chief KPS Gill has already given Rs 1 lakh to the players. We cannot be responsible for what the state governments do or don’t, but a hunger strike is not the right way,” he said.

Minister Praful Patel was also quick to respond to the criticism. “Members of Asia Cup winning Indian hockey team from Air India family will be suitably rewarded,” said a Ministry spokesman, quoting Patel.

But Indian Airlines Sports Control Board Secretary R Dayal told The Indian Express: “A fixed policy is in place regarding these matters. As per the policy, the hockey team which lifted the Asia Cup was not eligible for such rewards.” Hel said only teams winning the Asian Games, Olympic Games or a World Cup were eligible for rewards.