Sports ministry calls HI and IHF to form unified hockey body
NEW DELHI: In his effort to put up a unified hockey body, sports minister Ajay Maken has called for a meeting Saturday of Hockey India (HI) and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF).
Maken told reporters Thursday that accompanied by HI officials he went last month to meet former IHF president KPS Gill, now an advisor, but there was no solution.
HI has the recognition of the world body (FIH) while IHF, which was disbanded by the Indian Olympic Association ( IOA) on charges of corruption, has been re-instituted by the court.
“Last month I went to meet Mr. Gill with Hockey India (HI) officials, but there was no result. I want them to come to a common ground on equal terms,” Maken said.
The sports minister said that he wants equal representation from both the associations in the unified body.
“I want equal representations from both IHF and Hockey India in the unified body. It is very important to have a unified body in place. I have called both the parties again Saturday and want them to come together on equal terms,” said the minister.
Maken added that the sports ministry is awaiting HI’s recommendations on having a foreign coach.
“Till date we haven’t received any names from HI. We appointed Harendra Singh earlier because he was recommended by HI. We are not against the appointment of a foreign coach, but first they have to provide us with some names,” he said.
The sports ministry also allocated Rs 21 crore for the preparation of the men’s and women’s teams for the 2012 London Olympics.