Australia to Give Scholarship, Training to Indian Hockey Players

Showing eagerness to help Indian hockey get back to its feet, Australia has vowed to provide support in imparting training and scholarships for budding players and coaches in India.

Stephen Smith, Australian Foreign Minister, currently on visit to India, announced that from next year, two players – one male and other female – and a coach will be provided free training at the Institute of Sports and Hockey Facility in Perth.

Smith noted that India is one of the premier hockey playing nations and that they’re sad that it has failed to qualify for Beijing Olympics.

“So, all the hockey playing nations, including Australia, want India to return to its historic place as a great hockey playing nation,” he told reporters after visiting the Major Dhyan Chand stadium and the Talkotra Stadium in New Delhi.

Under the scholarship, the three selected persons will receive a two-week training stint at the Institute which has been in existence for the past 20 years.