Half a dozen former players of repute met Sports Minister MS Gill today at his chamber in the Ministry, and complained about the `defunct and malfunctioning’ Indian Women Hockey Federation.
Taking note that the women hockey is steadily going down each passing day, they explained to the Minister how the IWHF by its casual and whimsical attitude is proving to be detrimental to hockey promotion.
Arjuna Awardees Pritam Rani Siwach and Sandeep Kaur were joined in the meeting by 1982 Asiad Gold medallists Anurita Saini and Devinder Bhatia. 1998 Asian Games silver medallist Sunita Dalal was also present
The meeting lasted about an hour in which the former players highlighted how the IWHF is putting handful of their own people in every camp, without giving them any freedom to work. “Because these nonsenses, after the Bronze after Doha Asian Games, women hockey has come down so drastically and dramatically. Germany defeated us 7-2 in July this year. Are we so bad? Not at all. Vidya Stokes and Amrit Bose don’t bother about hockey. They are only interested in themselves, giving posts to their own group of people who happen to hold vote in the elections” said a player in the delegation
Another player pointedly said to the Minister that the IWHF Secretary is promoting Gwalior Academy Girls for her personal benefit. “I ran an Academy, but all of them are ignored for camp despite the fact that most of the players who won the recent Sub Junior Nationals were her trainees from the Academy”, said a player.
The players are also against men appointed as women team coaches. “We are equally qualified, can handle coaching softwares, and produce results. Why are we not considered, always men coaches are imposed on the girls”, said Anurita Saini.
Sources claim that the delegation highlighted about 17 points to the Minister. They insisted why leading players, like those present in the delegation, were not part of Commonwealth Games Committees, and queried the minister who suggest the names for various hockey committees.
Not conducting this year’s Nationals, not sending selectors for the last year Nationals were also high-lighted by these ladies.
“Women hockey is run on the government grants. The Minister should take note of what is going on in the IWHF. Now they don’t even have majority, they are not at all interested in conducting elections also. Elections are due since six months. They are in the post for almost 25 years continuously. They have to go now, new set of people should come in. We will do whatever we can. Meeting the minister is the first step” said a player in the delegation.
“Amrit Bose is arrogant. She shoots the game from the shoulders of coaches. Pity, IWHF even does not have an office nowadays”, said another player.
The delegation members assured the minister they will do everything possible for promotion of hockey. “But we are systematically shunned”
“Minister was happy to hear our grievances. He assured he will look into the problem. He said that he is certainly aware of certain problems in IWHF and thanked us for bringing his notice all these happenings”, said Anurita Saini.
s2h Opinion
IWHF is almost defunct. There is no office for IWHF nowadays. It is run from the home of Amrit Bose even since they had to vacate their office in the National Stadium that is under renovation. Both coaches, Bhangu (junior) and Kaushik (Senior), are puppets at the hands of Amrit Bose. Vidya Stokes, IWHF president is nowadays Opposition Leader in the HP Assembly, as usual does not have time for hockey. The IWHF, though it is time to work and train the teams for good exposure, is groping in dark. The coaches Bhangu and Kaushik do not take any stand because they are in service and their primary objective is to protect their job. Unless, something is drastically done, women hockey cannot be redeemed from the moribund condition in which it is in. They do not even have any programme in calender except, behold, a trip to, of all the places, Chile. Things are improving in Men’s hockey, but opposite is occurring in the women’s domain. s2h is happy there are players who stand up and try to improve things.
2 Comments
all the state and central hockey association should be abolished and set adhoc committee in six month time new and proper election should be conducted. Govt should give proper guide line eg. Office bearers should be only for two terms that is 6 yrs and should have break. Is is the only Solution for new and young office bearers to up lift the game
save indian hockey
yes. I agree with you. The office bearers of present IWHF are there since 1896. That is 8 years before Gill came to hockey. In all same set of people for 22 years. Things are rotten in IWHF. Unless govt implements some guidelines nothing is going to improve in sports, in particular less popular sports like women hockey. Concerned people like you should write to Sports Minister to awake them and make them work. They just allot money and don’t bother to enforce discipline. They should be told the money they allot is tax payers’. If people are aware likes of Stokes and Boses can be easily put in place.