Mumbai: Dispelling any doubts about the availability of top Indian players for the upcoming World Series Hockey, the tournament organisers on Monday said that all of them have "reconfirmed" their participation in the February 29-April 2 event carrying a prize money of $2 million.
"We are pleased to confirm that all players contracted to play in the inaugural edition of Bridgestone World Series Hockey, including players from India's successful Olympic qualifier team, have reaffirmed their participation in Bridgestone WSH 2012," Nimbus Sport COO Yannick Colaco said in a statement issued here.
"These confirmations come despite the latest antics by IHF's rival body in announcing a fictitious camp for Olympic probables. The IHF and WSH have been informed by the relevant authorities of sport in India that no such camp has been planned or even requested for," he said.
Colaco claimed that no national camp was slated before the conclusion of the WSH.
"We have been further informed that there are no plans to conduct any national camp before the April 4, 2012. Indian hockey and the WSH are beyond these petty politics and publicity stunts," he said.
Former skippers Rajpal Singh and Arjun Halappa were on Monday left out of the list of 48 probables announced by Hockey India for the London Olympics starting from July 27.
The Indian team will reportedly attend a series of coaching camps commencing for the Men Probables at SAI Centre Bangalore from March 5.
Meanwhile, Colaco said that every WSH player of the victorious Indian Qualifier team would be paid Rs five lakh each.
"World Series Hockey has launched an incentive program called 'Strive For Gold' to motivate the Indian hockey team to excel at the 2012 London Olympics. We are delighted that the team is in the right direction and re-confirm that every WSH player who was part of the victorious squad will be paid Rs 5 lakhs each for achieving the first milestone," he said.
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