Hockey India’s (HI) move of recogonising the Pune-based Maharashtra Hockey Association under its ‘one state, one unit’ policy has drawn sharp criticism from other bodies in the state.
The Mumbai Hockey Association and the Vidarbha Hockey Association, in a joint press conference here in Mumbai, said the new body at the centre lacked transparency.
Olympian Joaquim Carvalho, also the secretary of the Mumbai body, said: “HI affiliated the Pune-based body without even taking us into confidence. Such a move is against the sports ministry’s directive,” said Carvalho, adding that Mumbai should be given separate affiliation as it has its own infrastructure as well as over 1,000 members.
“Over a 100 teams from clubs, corporate, railways, banks, services, and schools and colleges take part in various leagues which are the nursery of Mumbai hockey,” said Carvalho.
With the recognised body itself having various factions, there were a few disgruntled voices emerging from Pune too. Benny Boodle, the secretary of one group, said: “HI has just mentioned that the Maharashtra Hockey Association has been recognised, but when I wrote a letter and asked which of the two factions have been given the nod, there was no reply from HI.”
Vidarbha association’s secretary Vinod Gawai also demanded that his association should be given a separate affiliation.
Apprehensions
Meanwhile other states which have more than one associations are also apprehensive about HI’s move. Ikramul Rahman, general secretary of the Bhopal Hockey Association, demanded that the three bodies from Madhya Pradesh — Madhya Pradesh Hockey Association, Madhya Bharat Hockey Association and Bhopal Hockey Association — should be given separate affiliations.
G Satyanarayana, honorary secretary of the Hyderabad Hockey Association, added: “We also have two bodies — the Hyderabad association and the Andhra Pradesh Hockey Association — challenging the formation of Hockey Andhra Pradesh. If HI recognises it, it will be very bad for the game in this part of the country.”