FIH to continue recognising Hockey India, ready to conduct Olympic qualifiers here
In a major breather for hockey in the country, International Hockey Federation (FIH) has decided to continue with its recognition of Hockey India (HI) and also conduct the Olympic qualifiers next February.
The decision was taken at the FIH executive board at Lausanne, where HI secretary general Narinder Batra had gone to present India’s case over the issue of governance.
“The FIH executive board has unanimously decided to conduct the Olympic qualifiers and other major hockey tournaments in India. They have also decided to recognise Hockey India (HI) as the national federation of the sport,” said a statement from the sports ministry Saturday.
FIH president Leandro Negre conveyed the decision to Sports minister Ajay Maken over phone.
“In his response the sports minister expressed satisfaction at the decision of FIH to conduct the qualifiers in India and termed it as a suitable and logical conclusion to the efforts that were made by the ministry, Hockey India and the FIH,” the statement added.
FIH was peeved at the power-sharing arrangement between HI and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), facilitated by the sports ministry. FIH officially recognise HI and said there cannot be two federations running the sport as it will be against its statues and Olympic charter. FIH took away the Champions Trophy from India and threatened HI with de-recogntion if the matter was not resolved.