Indian chief coach Joaquim Carvalho’s reported comments that hockey players were planning to go on a hunger strike, demanding recognition like their cricketing counterparts, created a stir on Wednesday.

An agency report from Chennai quoted Carvalho as saying that Indian players from Karnataka V R Raghunath, S V Sunil, Vikram Kanth and Ignace Tirkey, Indian team manager R K Shetty and assistant coach Ramesh Parameshwaran were planning to go on hunger strike in front of Karnataka chief minister’s house.

However, Shetty and the Karnataka State Hockey Association denied any such protest was on the cards. “We are planning no such thing. I have just returned from Delhi and even had lunch just now. This is a team that has done well and we are playing for the National team. We will not do such a thing,” said KSHA President Shetty.

In any case, it would not really be possible for the Karnataka players to stage a hunger strike since they are away playing in the German League. Carvalho, the coach of the Indian Oil Corporation team which is playing in the Super Division league here, was at the KSHA Stadium in the evening and denied making such comments.

“I never said anything about going on a strike. But I do protest the bias against hockey. The governments are rewarding cricketers for what they achieved. Where were the same governments when we won the Asia Cup title.”

“There should not be such treatment either for hockey or any other sport in the country. I don't have anything against the cricketers. In fact, I congratulate the cricketers for their achievement,” he added after his team defeated Army Red on Wednesday.

When asked if he thought the popularity of cricket was the reason for hockey getting shoddy treatment, Carvalho shot back: “Do you know which is the National sport?

“In the Asia Cup in Chennai, the stadium was packed for all the matches. There were many people outside the stadium who were trying to get inside and watch the matches.”

‘Worked hard’

“We had worked hard for the tournament but when we are not given any reward, it hurts us,” added Carvalho, echoing the sentiments of many sportspersons from other disciplines.

Though Karnataka chief minister K Kumaraswamy was quick to announce a cash award for Robin Uthappa, the State government has been rather silent on another champion sportsperson from Bangalore, Pankaj Advani, who won the world billiards championships earlier this month in Singapore.

KSHA Secretary K Krishnamurthy said there was no question of the State players going on a hunger strike. “This is not true. They are in Germany and playing in the league there. Besides, they are all disciplined players and would never do such things, with or without our knowledge.”

Union Civil Aviation minister Praful Patel had announced cash awards and out-of-turn promotions to cricketers employed with Air India. According to the agency report, Carvalho wondered if the minister knew that Air India and Indian Airlines has hockey players on their pay rolls.

Reacting to this, Patel said hockey players would be rewarded too. “Members of the Asia Cup-winning team from the Air India family will be rewarded,” said Patel.