Globally acclaimed Hockey India League mentor, and also Hockey India president Narinder Batra has been bestowed with a double honour by the FIH during its Ordinary Congress held recently in Marrakesh.
Batra has been elected to Executive Board of FIH and also given President Award
During the last week Congress, President’s Awards were presented to Dr Narinder Batra and Valentina Quaranta of Italy, for their lengthy and valuable services to hockey. Dr Narinder Batra, for his commitment to the development of hockey in India during the last five years, including the creation of the Hockey India League. And Valentina in recognition of her tireless work to promote hockey in Tanzania.
No Indian was in the reconstituted Executive Board of FIH since the preceding Executive Council and Advisory Council concept was abolished with Spaniard Leondro Negre defeating Els van Breda Vriesman in the US Congress six years ago.
Before that in the late 90s, KPS Gill was the Executive Council member from India.
Narinder Batra went to attend the Congress, but had to return due to tragic development, as his 27-year old son, Dhruv Batra, who accompanied him to Marrakesh, where the FIH’s Ordinary Congress was held, died due to stomach infection.