WHILE controversies and Indian hockey have always gone hand in hand, of late they’ve shown special affinity for each other. Even as the Ric Charlesworth issue refuses to die away, a new issue is likely to ruff leafew feathers. As things stand, the Indian Hockey Federation stands suspended, with the Indian Olympic Association running the show.
But with the Asian Hockey Federation set to meet in Hyderabad to discuss a few issues on Wednesday, it remains unclear who will represent India at the meeting. K Jothikumaran, who used to be the secretary of the IHF until the body was suspended, is the elected member of the Asian Hockey Federation and according to sources,could be attending the council meeting.
But given that he was elected in his capacity as the secretary of the IHF, it’s not clear if his election to the Asian body remains valid.
P Alagendra, the secretary-general of the AHF, told The Indian Express that, “all elected members of the council are expected to be at the meeting”. When asked who would be India’s representative, Alagendra refused to comment, only saying, “Whoever was elected (in 2006) will be present. No elected member has been debarred from the meeting.” But convenor of the IOA ad-hoc committee, Mohammad Aslam Khan, said that India would be represented by himself and IOA president Suresh Kalmadi at the meeting.