Sahara's bid worth a huge Rs 25-crores

MUMBAI: Success, however small or big, does make people sit up and take notice. But when a corporate house shows a hitherto unheard of interest, then it surely makes news. Big news.
The decision of the Sahara Group, which has supported Indian cricket for three years, to forklift Indian hockey, following the twin successes in Australia and Germany recently, out of a financial fissure that was fast widening, is timely.Their commitment, announced on Wednesday, will last over a period of eight years.
Never could Indian hockey have had a better deal. And, it is learnt through reliable sources, both in the hockey federation as well as the Sahara Group, that the amount, undisclosed at the time of announcing the arrangement, is to the tune of a whopping Rs 25 crores for the eight years. That amounts to around a little above Rs 3 crore per year.
However, one only hopes that these monies are utilised judiciously by the federation. That the players also get a share in the pie. Just like the cricket board disburses 60 percent of the sponsorship to the players.
Then only, can we say goodbye to the $20-a-day for our hockey stars!