Bhubaneswar: After sprint queen Dutee Chand former India hockey player and Olympian William Xalco expressed his dissatisfaction and criticised the Odisha government Friday for not keeping its promise of allotting him a government quarter or residential plot in Bhubaneswar.
Xalco, who was been part of the Indian team in the 2004 Sydney Olympics, had been promised by the state government to be provided with a residential plot way back in 2012. The state sports department had also issued a letter with this announcement. Since then a lot of water has flown in Mahanadi, but nothing has materialised.
The former vice-captain of the India junior team rued that he has tried to follow the matter with the state sports department several times, but so far they are dilly-dallying with their promise.
“Odisha government is giving so much of importance to sports and hockey in special. But I am deeply hurt by their indifferent attitude towards a former Indian player and Olympian like me. Most of the hockey players, who had represented India in the Olympics, have got quarters in the state capital. But I don’t understand why they are neglecting me,” rued Xalco, who has played 30 matches for the Indian team.