New Delhi: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) lashed out at India's boycotting players, saying they got their priorities all wrong.
FIH vice president Antonio von Ondarza, also the world body's observer for Hockey India elections, said staying away from training camp before an important event like World Cup was unheard of in the game's history.
"I came here yesterday and came to know about the players' strike from television. I am very sad at what is happening, this shouldn't have happened. This is completely unheard of in hockey circles," Ondarza, who was here to meet HI officials and help them resolve the election issues, told reporters.
"We want India to comeback. India has been a traditional hockey nation in the world and for a player wearing India shirt should be his priority," he said.
He also said that with the World Cup round the corner, the players should not have taken such an extreme step which would only hamper India's preparations for the February 28-March 13 mega-event to be held in the capital.
"Staying away from training is not the solution. World Cup is at the door, if they don't train it will only affect their results in the World Cup," Ondarza said.
PTI
First Published: Monday, January 11, 2010, 19:59