New Delhi
Former administrator KPS Gill is miffed at International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) increasing ‘interference’ in the running of the game in the country and believes it is detrimental to the revival of India’s national sport.
“For the last two-three years, FIH have been interfering in Indian hockey. They first sent (Ric) Charlesworth here. India was ranked fifth then and now we are at 12th position. Their role in setting up Hockey India also raised so many questions,” Gill, the former IHF Supremo, said in an interview.
Last year, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had disbanded Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation and had formed an ad-hoc committee to run the hockey affairs in the country. Recently India’s men and women associations merged to form Hockey India with A K Matto as its head. However, Gill later joined hands with Hockey India.
Hockey India is due to hold elections for the formation of a democratically elected body but Gill neither denied nor confirmed running for the post of President. “I can not say anything at this stage. I re-aligned with hockey so that the national sport can be brought back on track but the pace is too slow,” he said.
“From Vijay Merchant, Dilip Sardesai to Sunil Gavaskar Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni, all have maintained dignity and that is why cricket touched great heights. And our hockey players took