In the wake of the debacle at the World Cup in Utrecht, earlier this year, Gill felt that the results in Malaysia will count vis-a-vis revival of Indian hockey. ``We will be attaching a lot of importance to our performance in the Commonwealth Games, and if we play to our potential, then we will win the tournament,'' he said.

While expressing satisfaction at the fitness level of the players, Gill said he concurred with coach M K Kaushik's views that longer camps were needed to improve further. ``After we return from Malaysia, we will be giving a short break to the players who will reassemble in Bangalore for a long camp in our preparation for the Asian Games,'' the IHF chief said.

No tours:

Having learnt the futility of ill-advised foreign tours prior to a major tournament,Gill asserted that the Indian team for the Asiad will stay at home and probably play a few Test matches against visiting sides before the Bangkok Games in December.

However, the `developmental team' which suffered crushing defeats at Hamburg last month, might be engaged in a couple of tours, he said, but did not elaborate.

Indo-Pak series:

Gill confirmed that in 1999, India and Pakistan will be playing another series, like the one earlier this year. ``Since we have no major tournaments in 1999, a series against Pakistan will be of help,'' he said.

Payments to players:

Apparently, Gill believes in the adage, ``deserve and then desire''. He opined that money alone will not produce results. ``When you excel, the money will come, and not the other way round,'' he said.

Referring to the controversy over payment to players, earlier this year, Gill charged that it was a ``problem engineered by some ex-players''. He said it was absolutely ``disgraceful and reprehensible'' on part of the formerplayers who, by their action, had done a great ``disservice'' to the game.

In a hard-hitting statement, with obvious reference to former India captain Pargat Singh, Gill said: ``He wrote in his little magazine that my re-election had done harm to Indian hockey. But the same person wrote to me later that I was the right choice.''

Team physio:

Gill underlined the importance of a physiotherapist, more than a doctor, accompanying the Indian team. ``I had suggested to the Sports Authority of India that they must send a physio abroad for training and then attach him to the Indian team. I hope they accept my suggestion,'' he said.

No ill-effects:

On the thorny issue of former coach Vasudevan Baskaran's adverse remarks against certain players, Gill stated that the players had got over it. ``I was surprised that the report was made public. There is no way I can guarantee confidentiality because by the time I receive it, the newspapers have already published it.