HI hits out at IHF, terms it anti-national

Terming the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) as “anti-national” and the proposed World Series of Hockey (WSH) as an “attempt to sabotage India’s chances of qualifying for the London Olympics”, Hockey India (HI) on Friday lashed out at its rivals accusing them of luring players to the unsanctioned league.
The strongly-worded statement from HI also threatens serious implications for players and officials who align with the WSH. At the same time, HI insists that no action will be taken against players who signed up with WSH on or before March 31 this year. The HI statement also said that it would conduct an International Hockey League in 2013 as an “FIH sanctioned event” while blaming the IHF for all of Indian hockey’s ills. The WSH is a collaboration between IHF and Nimbus Sports.

“IHF is hellbent to sabotage India’s qualification chances for the London Olympic Games in 2012. The dates for WSH in December 2011-January 2012 clashes with the national coaching camps 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,” HI said.

HI secretary general Narinder Batra said he stood by the statement, but added that a meeting with IHF and the sports ministry was also on schedule.

IHF secretary Ashok Mathur, however, said the talks had no meaning after such statements. “How can he use such words? Is giving money to players anti-national? Is promoting the sport, bringing in sponsors, making it popular across the world and getting top players here anti-national?

“The company we have tied up with is Indian, the money stays in India and Indian players are the biggest beneficiaries. HI, on the other hand, hides behind FIH, appoints a foreign CEO and claims to have no money for players. We will definitely be sending a befitting reply,” Mathur said.