IHF plans merger with IWHF, ready to follow govt guidelines

In a move that may jeopardise the existence of the Hockey India (HI), the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) today said it was in talks with the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation (IWHF) to form a single body for the game and willing to follow the government’s age and tenure guidelines.

The HI, who are set go to polls on August 5, had refused to adhere to the ministry guidelines before announcing the much awaited elections, saying they are ruled by their own constitution. IHF president KPS Gill said they had already adopted steps to unify men’s and women’s hockey.

“We are in talks with the IWHF. We held a meeting with the IWHF officials to discuss the unification of two bodies. We are more than willing to form a single body in the country,” Gill said. “We have already said we have no problems with the government guidelines. We will give our reply to the ministry within the stipulated time,” he said.

The Sports Ministry had yesterday issued showcause notices to both the HI and the IHF, asking the two bodies to clarify their stance on guidelines of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Indian government. The ministry had given the IHF 14 days time to reply and demanded an explanation from the HI before the Thursday’s elections as to why it should not be derecognised in the wake of the federation’s declaration before the Delhi High Court that it is a private body.

HI secretary general Narinder Batra said the polls would be held as per schedule and they would answer to the ministry’s showcause notice within the given time. “Some of the matters in the notice are subjudice so I won’t like to comment on it but we will definitely reply to their notice before the elections. The elections are on,” Batra said. Incidentally, the much-awaited HI elections were postponed four times earlier, most recently on July 28 after the Delhi and Bombay High Courts stayed the poll process.

While the Delhi High Court stayed the polls following the failure of the Central government to clarify its legal position regarding the HI and the IHF, the Bombay High Court did the same on a petition filed by the Maharashtra Hockey Association.

The HI, however, moved the Supreme Court against the orders and managed to vacate the stays on July 30 and obtain a green signal from the apex court to hold its elections. — PTI