Will Batra go that extra mile, or bogged down?

Narinder Batra of Jammu and Kashmir Hockey Association did what others would not have even dreamt of. He filed a case against so called super cop KPS Gill, dared him on very forum.

This was at a time three former players who had voting rights in the Indian Hockey Federation dared not to even look at KPS Gill on face in the Annual General Meetings!

Now that the High Court has given its verdict, the question that occupies everyone’s mind is, will Batra go that extra mile to bring the issues to the logical conclusion?

Batra argued in the court that as per the Government of India’s own Guidelines to the National Federations that get its funding, no National Federation is expected to have officer bearers for more than two tenures

Government of India, IHF, Indian Olympic Association — you can simply say the vicious circle that kills the Indian Olympic sports — jointly argued that the International Olympic Committee’s charter, principles and policies don’t allow governments to interfere in the National Federations’ autonomy.

Justice Gita Mittal has exposed the folly of the argument with the observation that the IOC itself had restrictions on the terms of its officer bearers.

In the 150-page judgment passes no clean chit to KPS Gill’s way of running hockey and even dismisses the gold medals won the Indian team in the last ten years in view of the failure to qualify for the last Olympics.

Now Batra can initiate a few more required legal steps to clean up the sports bodies. But, seeing his current unwanted crusade against JB Roy, who is eyeing the IHF chief chair, it seems highly doubtful

Batra is needlessly wasting his energy on JB Roy, who has mustered enough support for his IHF ambitions. It is strongly rumoured in the hockey circle that Batra’s actions right now is fodder for both IOA and the dissolved IHF — both were his rivals in the case he seemed to have nearly won now — to wriggle themselves out of the legal tangle. If Batra misses this opportunity that the Court has given, these elements will get away again.

Now dream a situation where no sports federation chief can contest for third time. Most of the ills that plague Indian sports can be remedied if this one change was ruthlessly followed. For instance, when Batra filed this case Gill was contesting for fourth term!!

Therefore, it is time for Batra to forget the little things and keep focussed on the task he has taken upon himself.

Will he do for us, in the interest of the Olympics Sports, or bogged down with the unnecessary ego clashes and personal ambitions, is a million dollar question.

History will salute Batra if he chooses to go that extra mile.