Stokes warns teams of IHF meet
Tribune News Service
Hockey India president Vidya Stokes has warned that action would be taken against those teams which participate in the men’s National Championship at Bhopal. “We have learnt that the Government of Madhya Pradesh is planning to conduct the men’s National Championship at Bhopal from July 4 to 18, 2010.
“Strict disciplinary action and penalisation as deemed fit would be taken against all those teams and players who participate in such kind of unauthorised tournaments,” Stokes said in a statement here yesterday.
The Indian Hockey Federation, headed by KPS Gill, in its general council meeting in Delhi recently, had decided to hold the national championship in Bhopal in view of the Delhi Hight Court lifting the ban imposed on it by the Indian Olympic Association and the Sports Ministry.
But Hockey India would have none of it, as it emphasised that HI was the “sole governing body for men and women (hockey) in India and duly recognised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).” Stokes said it was the “sole prerogative” of Hockey India to conduct the National Championships and also grant permission for the holding of various domestic tournaments, besides sending teams for overseas competitions, including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, World Cup and the Olympic Games.
“Hockey India has not given permission for the conduct of the men’s championship in Bhopal,” she asserted.
At the general council meeting of Hockey India here on June 14, it was decided to hold the National Championship in November-December this year.