India's rebellious hockey players will resume training for next month's World Cup Thursday after resolving their pay dispute with the national federation. The India hockey team's main sponsors Sahara India announced an immediate payment of 10 million rupees ($220,000) for distribution to players “so that they can peacefully and happily practice and play for the country.” Earlier on Wednesday, India's Sports Minister Manohar Singh Gill urged the players to return to training or risk ruining preparations for the New Delhi event after an indefinite boycott of the training camp moved into a fifth day. “Hockey has been our national game. It can never be a national shame. It will be our national pride,” Indian Olympic association president Suresh Kalmadi told reporters after brokering a deal with the players. “The players all feel that they want to lift Indian hockey. I assured them of full support.” The row resurfaced over incentives and improved pay, despite Hockey India announcing at the weekend that the contentious issues had been resolved. “I wish to appeal to the players to immediately join training and continue so with full heart till the tournament and focus to win it,” Sports Minister Gill said in a statement earlier in the day. After failing to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Games, India hired Spanish coach Jose Brasa in a bid to revive India's fortunes at the Feb. 28
