Hockey India, IHF join hands, but only just

The two bodies will also hold an annual national together, after joint selection of the state teams.

In a stop-gap meas July 25: In a stop-gap measure, the two warring hockey federations on Monday agreed to form a joint committee that would look into the day-to-day affairs of the national team.

The working committee — which will consist of presidents of both Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation as chairman and cochairman along with three representatives from either federation — would look into selection of the national team, sending the teams to various international tournaments and holding national camps.

The two federations, however, would continue to function individually as before.

The arrangement came after an ultimatum from the sports ministry, warning the l federations to work together or face the consequences.
The arrangement will conl tinue till the end of 2012.

“It is an attempt to find a comfort level by working together and have mutual s trust,“ said Hockey India secretary general Narinder Batra.

Under the settlement, there will be a joint executive committee of 39 members and a joint working committee of eight members, which will take final decisions.

HI will have 20 members in the 39-member executive committee, while the remaining 19 will be from the IHF.

Regarding the proposed World Series Hockey

League, HI confirmed they would not impose any restriction on the participation of players contracted before April 1, 2011 in the proposed league being organised by IHF.
However, this will be subject to training schedules for national camps and the duration for which players can be spared for such participa in Mumbai for the IHFNimbus backed World Hockey Series — would be allowed to resume training from Tuesday, it was learnt.

Senior players Arjun Halappa, Adrian D’Souza, Prabhjot Singh, Sardara Singh and Sandeep Singh were barred from training after their return to Bengaluru — venue of the national camp.

Though Batra was not forthcoming on the matter, Hockey India — in a late night meeting — decided not to act against the players.

Said a source, “Since the two bodies have finally decided to work together, Hockey India decided to go easy on the players’ issue.

The players will be able to train from tomorrow evening after a written clearance from the Sports Authority of India.”