One of the leading and the oldest State Hockey Associations (SHA) in the country, the Bombay Hockey Association, has taken India’s debacles at the international forums in 2006 seriously as any sensible constituent body should. In order to set the things right, it shoot off a missive to the Indian Hockey Federation. The 3-page letter signed by the energetic Commander Kehar Singh in essence seeks collective wisdom while at the same forcing the IHF to disclose many matters that were not made public.

The letter is hot as it concludes by saying, ‘the National Game cannot be allowed to deteriorate further at the whims and fancies of a few individuals but instead matters concerning the game should be fully considered, debated and decisions taken after discussion for the implementation by the Executive Committee of the IHF’.

s2h brings you the letter addressed to the IHF Secretary verbatim

After repeated debacles of India hockey team at the World Cup, Asian Games and the relegation of the status of the hockey from priority to general list by the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, it is very painful that the hockey fraternity of our country are sitting undisturbed and have done anything worthwhile to stop this further rot.

Taking note of this serious situation, the Committee of Mumbai Hockey Association directed me to forward the following points for discussion / inclusion at the Special General Body Meeting and/or General Body Meeting of IHF, whichever is earlier, in order to streamline the hockey affairs for eventual improvement so that original standard as was existing earlier could be restored.

The points at issue are given here below

How many meeting of the Executive Committee during the period between World Cup / Asian Games and Azlan Shah Cup were held to discuss and decide implementing measures to stop further rot of Indian hockey?

What duties were allotted to various functionaries of EC namely Vice Presidents, Asst. Secretaries and or other members whose named are printed on the IHF letter head for working improvements.

When and by whom was the present Selection Committee appointed and what is the action taken on this Selection Committee after the repeated failures due to the wrong selection of players

Why direct affiliation to public Sector / Privately managed club teams were given on par with the State Hockey Associations? This is the root cause of the downward trend of the hockey standards

Why the National Championships have been stopped for the State Hockey Associations? (For all Age Groups)
To consider conducting Federation Cup Hockey Tournaments for to the elite clubs of the country similar to All India Football Federation?

To consider detailing the Selectors to watch performances of players at the various age group Nationals, All India Class I tournaments and to forward such names to IHF for further grooming.

Premier hockey league

The concept of holding this league, its purpose and the contract signed between the parties should be tabled before the General Body for consideration

Who decides the quantum of payment to the participants including those from foreign countries?

Total funds made available for this venture by the ESPN to IHF

Whether the modalities for agreement if made with ESPN/LSM were approved by the Executive Committee? Beneficiaries via commission, if any, could also be discussed?

The disparity in cash awards to the participants of equal status and the Hockey umpires/technical officials?

We are forwarding this letter to all the member of the EC for their soul searching whether they are right in keeping quite upto now for all the adverse effects created by two member almighty committee of Mr. KPS Gill and Mr. Jyothikumaran.

Please be aware that this National Game cannot be allowed to deteriorate further at the whims and fancies of a few individuals but instead matters concerning the game should be fully considered, debated and decision taken after discussion for the implementation by the executive committee of IHF.

We appeal to all the member Hockey States to wake up and look after this National Game which had been at the peak in the past due to efforts put in by our predecessors.

Kindly note that in case this appeal does not find favour with the present incumbents for calling a General Body / Special General Body meeting, we shall then perforce convene such a meeting at a venue and date as convenient to all the mebers states which please note.