IA offers 50% off for hockey players

National-level hockey players will get 50 per cent concession on Indian Airlines flights, Civil Aviation minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said on Monday.

The minister, while felicitating nine eminent sportspersons of the national carrier at a function in Delhi, said the Indian Airlines Sports Control Board budget will be doubled from the present Rs 7.5 million

The sportspersons felicitated were cricketers Javagal Srinath, V V S Laxman and Harbhajan Singh, women's Grandmaster S Vijayalakshmi, hockey players Inam-ur Rahman, Mukesh Kumar and Dilip Tirkey, twice World men's carrom champion a Maria Irudayam and shooter Vivek Singh.

The minister also announced that Indian Airlines will bear 50 per cent of the cost of laying an astro-turf for hockey in a Delhi stadium.

He said the matter of Indian Airlines being allowed to participate in the Ranji Trophy as a team like Railways and Services would be taken up with the Board of Control for Cricket in India.