Hockey India: ‘IHF ‘slow poisons’ Indian hockey’

The war of words between the two warring factions of Indian hockey, Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation — flared up further today with the former accusing the latter of ‘slow poisoning’ Indian hockey.

Hockey India, through a public statement today, not only accused Indian Hockey Federation of sabotaging Indian prospects in the forthcoming Olympic Qualifier but also alleged of ‘slow poisioning’ of Indian hockey itself.

Quoting the dates of proposed World Series Hockey, which precedes Olympic Qualifier to be held in India in Feb 2012, Hockey India states that “This is nothing but a blatant Anti National campaign by IHF to ensure the slow poisoning of Indian Hockey.

While renewing its often stated position with respect to World Series Hockey — it is an unsanctioned event by FIH — Hockey India cautions both players and officials who would be officiating with it.

“Players and Officials who participate in the WSH will face serious implications by figuring in this unsanctioned event”, Hockey India categorically mentioned in the press release.

Hockey India also tempted to compare its achievement with IHF’s and goes on to add,

Under the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) India failed to qualify for the Olympic Games at Beijing in 2008. This was the first time in eighty years that India went unrepresented in the Hockey competition at the Olympic Games. This was nothing short of a national catastrophe as Indian Hockey plunged to a new low.

Then comes the venom from HI. It says that the dates of WSH is deliberately fixed so as to sabotage Indian prospects of in the Olympic Qualifier.

The IHF is hell bent to sabotage India’s qualification chances for the London Olympic Games in 2012. It is desperately trying to throw baits to woo the players and officials for the WSH, fully aware that this is an unsanctioned FIH event which attracts penalties and suspensions for violations. In addition, the dates for WSH League in December 2011 – January 2012 have been deliberately kept, so that it clashes with the National Coaching Camps which will be in progress at this time in preparation for the Olympic Qualifiers. This is nothing but a blatant Anti National campaign by IHF to ensure the slow poisoning of Indian Hockey.

Hockey India also feels the national men’s team fared better than the IHF’s tenures. It quotes the marginal improvement in the ranking of India in various tournaments to support its view.

“During the IHF period, India, apart from not qualifying for the Beijing Olympics 2008 performed abysmally in the World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games 2006 finishing 11th, 6th and 5th respectively. However, the team performed much better under Hockey India in the next edition of all these games in 2010. There was a marked improvement in the results as India finished 8th, Silver Medalist and Bronze Medalist respectively at the World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

‘Recently, India won the elite Men’s Asian Champions Trophy at Ordos, China beating Pakistan in the final’, it adds.

on its part, HI says that it will organize Internatinal Men Hockey League in 2013. This seems to be its bait for the Indian publics

‘Hockey India shall be conducting the International Men Hockey League under the aegis of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) from 2013.

Teams featuring the top current overseas World Stars besides India will be drawn from various regions of the country. FIH has been requested for a 45 day window in their calendar for this event and also not to conduct any other tournament during this period.

The teams will be owned by franchisees and matches will be played on a home and away basis as in the IPL Cricket Format. This league shall be held annually and will be part of the FIH Sanctioned Events.