HI elections on July 28

Hockey India (HI) on Tuesday announced that it would hold its elections here on July 28.

The move came following a communication from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that unless elections were held to the unified body, the FIH would apply its statutes to the Indian situation and the country would not be allowed to play in the women’s World Cup to be held in Rosario, Argentina, from August 29.

According to a press release issued by HI President Vidya Stokes, the Returning Officer for the elections would be retired High Court judge Justice R.C. Chopra.

S.K. Mendiratta, who was earlier nominated by the Union Sports Ministry as the observer, was expected to perform that role once again, according to HI.

FIH Vice-President Antonio von Ondarza would be the FIH observer while the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had also agreed to send its observer, according to HI Secretary Narinder Batra.

The position of the government and the IOA is still unclear, however, following the recent Delhi High Court order which has set aside the disaffiliation and de-recognition of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) by the IOA and the ministry.

HI has completed an affiliation process through a special general meeting here on June 14, at which 26 State/UT units and four institutional boards were granted affiliations. — Sports Reporter