Hockey India, IHF join hands

Sports Reporter

Representatives from 20 State units, three UTs attended

NEW DELHI: Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) on Sunday joined hands to start the process of setting up a unified body for men and women.

The coming together of both the bodies, in effect, is expected to facilitate a smooth merger of State associations belonging to both genders and consequently the conduct of the elections, required to be done within six months.

Hockey India’s representatives were present at the special general body meeting of the K.P.S. Gill-led IHF here and they tried to clear doubts about the formation of the new body. Both the sides agreed to find out ways to form unified State associations.

Modalities

A six-member committee of the IHF along with a panel belonging to Hockey India will find out modalities for the merger. The process will be completed within 45 days.

Representatives from 20 State units and three union territories attended the meeting. The IHF claimed that members of major hockey playing units were present. Besides, three other States had conveyed their support through letters.

The IHF asserted that 10 States would carry out the merger of men and women associations within a week and 10 other units had assured to do so as soon as possible.

“Though many questions arise, the thing in all this is that hockey should not suffer,” Mr. Gill told reporters at a press conference. He clarified that there is no secret understanding between the two organisations.

Have a say

The IHF-Hockey India alliance will now allow representatives of various State associations to have their say in the new body. “All members of the IHF who have contributed to hockey for so many years should continue in the new body,” said Mr. Gill.

Mr. Gill invited other State association members, who attended the meeting led by Bengal Hockey Association President J.B. Roy in Amby Valley, to follow in the footsteps of the IHF.

Asked how the IHF, suspended by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), is negotiating with the IOA-created Hockey India, Mr. Gill said, “If India and Pakistan can talk, then why can’t we?”

Hockey India Secretary General Mohammad Aslam Khan was happy that things had started moving now. On inviting women associations to Hockey India’s fold, he said, “We are talking to them separately, but the States will have single units.”