Indian Women’s Hockey Federation merges with Indian Hockey Federation

NEW DELHI: The KPS Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation on Thursday merged with the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation to strengthen its claim for being the sole representative body for the sport in the country.

Indian Hockey Federation, the new unified hockey body, will hold its elections in the first week of October in New Delhi.

Re-recognised by the sports ministry, the IHF was trying to get the approval of the International Hockey Federation, which considers Hockey India as the sole representative for the sport in India.

One of the pre-requisites for getting the FIH recognition was to have a single body for both the men’s and women’s hockey.

Earlier, peeved by the FIH’s stand to recognise HI, the sports ministry has stated that HI had no right to select teams as it was a “private body” and that IHF should be given time to be fully compliant with world governing body’s guidelines.

The ministry also asked the FIH not to deal with HI any more as it has lost its national character and allow the IOA or the Sports Authority of India to field the Indian team for international events till the issue was resolved.