Hockey India sets Feb. 7 as new date for elections

Hockey India on Monday set February 7 as the new date for its elections. HI president Ashok Kumar Mattoo said the groundwork for the elections had been laid after a detailed meeting with world body FIH vice-president Antonio van Ondarza.

Said Mattoo, “We have done the documentation for the elections and it is for the FIH observer and the government-appointed observer to look into the matter now. We have made substantial progress in today’s meeting. There were some issues and those have been cleared now.”

On Monday, Punjab and Delhi were affiliated to the national body, paving way for the polls. Till date, 30 of the 32 state units have been affiliated, the only exceptions being Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.

Said a HI official, “Madhya Pradesh’s affiliation is very unikely as the state association is yet to merge its six units, a must to be a part of the national federation. Kerala is involved in a court case and is in with a chance to get affiliation if the court verdict comes out within a day or two.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the sports ministry has issued strict guidelines that the present Hockey India office-bearers and d Indian Olympic Associae tion officials will not be y allowed to contest the elections.

n The development has put – the officials-in-charge in a a state of bother, many of whom were eyeing posts – once the unified body was s formed. The move also e effectively rules out IOA e chief Suresh Kalmadi, who a was “keen” to contest for – the post of HI president.

a “The same rule will apply a to the IOA because the f foundation board of Hockt ey India was constituted by IOA by invoking its t extraordinary powers,” y the sports ministry said in s a letter to HI and FIH y observer Ondarza.