FIH unhappy at change of Hockey India election date

M.S. Unnikrishnan

Tribune News Service

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is “very disappointed” that Hockey India has set a fresh date to hold the elections, instead of the deadline of May 31, 2010 set by the international body. In a letter to Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra, FIH secretary-general Peter L Cohen noted that the HI elections, set for July 5, 2010 “is well outside the deadline previously advised to and approved by FIH of 31 May, 2010”. He said the FIH was very disappointed that the May 31 deadline cannot be met.

Batra, in a telephone conversation earlier today, had requested Cohen to extend the May 31 deadline but Cohen said “this the FIH cannot do. However, I can advise that, provided that the elections are held on or before 5 July, 2010, thereafter Hockey India is and remains the sole governing body for hockey, men and women, in India; and thereafter Hockey India is administered in accordance with its statutes as approved by the FIH. FIH will not take any further action in the meantime”.

This was sweet music for Hockey India, as FIH had made it clear that despite the Delhi High Court restoring the suspended Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), the international body will not deal with it. Cohen asserted that the FIH’s sole interest was a duly eleted HI in place for the proper running of the game in the country. “The interests of the FIH are to see Hockey India fully constituted and operating in accordance with its statutes so that the sports in India will develop and flourish. FIH has no desire to penalise anyone, least of all the players”, Cohen wrote.

Cohen reiterated the FIH stand that “the HI elections are held on or before 5 July, 2010 and ensure that the FIH (and its observer Ondarza) is provided with a copy of the notice convening the meeting at which the elections will be held, and after the meeting, a copy of the minutes”.

Meanwhile, Hockey India said it had an electoral roll of 30 State/Union Territories and four institutional/Boards as its members. These members comprise both men and women units in their respective States. Hockey India claimed that these 34 members were verified and approved by the State Olympic bodies, the Indian Olympic Association, observers of Government of India and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the FIH observer.

Hockey India said prominent hockey officials and players like Amrit Bose, Gurbux Singh, Dr Raj Kumar, Jaipal, K Krishna Murthy and Pargat Singh were “the other people part of approval of meetings”. The election guidelines have been framed by the Government and the Sports Ministry has nominated an observer who is also the legal adviser to the Election Commission of India. The returning officer will be a retired judge of the High Court and voting will be done through secret ballot, and there will also be IOA and FIH observers.

“All this is being done to have free, fair and transparent elections of Hockey India and to see and ensure that the interest of hockey in India is best served”, HI stated. Hockey India was also not perturbed at the High Court ruling in favour of the IHF, as the court order “is not revival of the IHF, but how interest of hockey can be best served,” which is evident from para 76 on page 42 of the court ruling: “Instead of again panicking about the revival of IHF, it requires to be seen how the interest of hockey in India can be best served”.