IHF to focus on revival of the game
By Solomon S Kumar
HYDERABAD: For all those who pine for the golden years of hockey when India ruled the world, there seems to be a ray of hope as a revitalized Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) embarks on the ambitious plan of bringing back the glory days.
With state DGP V Dinesh Reddy at the helm of affairs, the IHF has got down to the business of reviving the sport across the country. “The last two years have been a trying time for the game. The power struggle between the IHF and Hockey India (HI) has almost destroyed the game. But things are looking up again and we are keen on restoring the game to its earlier glory days,” Reddy said on Wednesday.
“I think by March this year things will be much clearer as to which body – IHF or HI – will manage the affairs of the game in the country. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the union government have already recognized the IHF and now it is time the FIH too gave its stamp of approval,” Reddy said.
Reddy blamed former IOA president Suresh Kalmadi for the present impasse. “It was Kalmadi who created all this mess. To get even with former IHF president KPS Gill, he de-recognized us and propped up the HI,” he said.
Reddy knows that it is not an easy task to get things back on track but he is game for the challenge. “We plan to start at the grassroots again. We want to tap talent from the school level.
“Hockey right now lacks patronage and we are eager to tap into sponsorships to revive the game in a big way. We are also looking at restarting the Premier Hockey League to give the game the necessary impetus,” Reddy said.
Reddy, who is also president of the Hyderabad Hockey Association (HHA), said the sport in the city too is set for a grand revival. “We have committed people in the association who are really passionate about the game and hence we are going to work together to make hockey an attractive game for youngsters,” he said.
In that direction, the HHA will conduct an Inter-school tournament in the last week of this month.
“The Begumpet hockey stadium will also become operational in a couple of months. We have already spent Rs 28 lakh on renovation work there and are also looking at having a new astro-turf surface. This will cost about Rs 1.5 crore and hence we are seeking assistance from the central government,” Additional DGP (training) Tejdeep Kaur Menon, who is a HHA vice-president, said.
“The Andhra Pradesh State Police (APSP), SAI and the HHA are working in tandem on this and an agreement will be made soon. This will help the revival of the sport in a big way in the city and we will be able to restart the leagues,” she added.
“With a sportsman – Kiran Kumar Reddy – at the helm of affairs in the state, I am confident that the state will help in the revival of the sport and hockey will once again become a vibrant game,” Reddy said.