HI, IHF forge ‘working relationship’

Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) on Monday forged a “working relationship” for better administration of the game. The association would last until 2012 with the focus obviously being the London Olympics.

At the end of a day-long meeting involving officials from the two bodies and the Union Sports Ministry, HI secretary N.K. Batra and IHF president R.K. Shetty emerged hand in hand to meet the media and assure that the “compromise” was progressing on positive lines.

The Union Sports Ministry termed it a significant development. In a press release, it said, “In a significant way forward, IHF and HI came together to sign an agreement leading to a formation of a joint executive board which shall perform the function of the National Sports Federation for Hockey.”

JOINT STATEMENT

In a joint statement, HI and IHF stated, “The settlement should not be treated as merger or amalgamation of HI and IHF, which shall continue to retain their separate legal entities.” All communication from the joint executive board will have the sanction of Batra and Shetty.

Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken, on a foreign visit, spoke to both the parties before the arrangement as finalised. Maken hoped this step would end the prevalent uncertainty for players and participation of the Indian teams in international tournaments and eventually lead to the welfare of the national game

“We want to co-exist. We will retain our individual identities but work out a healthy working relationship,” said Batra.

“We will have a robust administrative arrangement for the betterment of hockey. We want to work together as a family. Having come this far we need to take a few more steps to put things in shape,” Shetty added.

The World Series Hockey will go on even though both parties agreed they had some contractual issues to sort out. HI confirmed that it will not impose any restrictions on the participation of players who were contracted before April 1, 2011.

The legal cases against each other would not be withdrawn as of now but Shetty and Batra were of the firm opinion that would not come in the way of smooth functioning of the set up.

SEPARATE LEGAL EXISTENCE

According to a joint statement issued by the IHF and HI, the settlement shall not in any manner interfere with the separate legal existence and contractual commitments and statutory liabilities of either party. Neither HI nor IHF shall be liable for contractual commitment of statutory liabilities of each other, said the statement.

According to the compromise formula, the Executive Board will comprise 20 members from HI and 19 from IHF. The Working Committee will have eight members — president of both the bodies and three members each. “I am happy with the settlement. It is good,” Batra admitted.

The priority tasks ahead of the newly-form arrangement would involve holding the National championship, preparation, selection and international participation of the national men, women, junior and sub-junior teams.

On the issue of five players missing the national camp to attend a promotional event, Batra said, “Athletes will not be harmed. We will find a solution soon.”

On the new name for the body, the names suggested were Bharat Hockey, Hockey Bharat or India Hockey.