There is one NP Katare. I don’t know his hockey credentials. He has been Secretary of Madhya Bharat Hockey Association, till recently a voting unit, for almost 35 years.

IM Mahajan, former IHF president, is still President of the Delhi Hockey Association, starting from mid 60s.

Then there are like these Katares and Mahajans; in Vidarbha (till recently two groups were fighting each other starting from 1970s), in Maharashtra and almost everywhere.

We are not sure whether the Government of India’s recent order specifying the tenure of National Sports Federations and IOA is applicable to state Units also, but for sure, if this comes to state level, we can heave a sigh of relief.

At least for once Katares and Mahajans will fade away.

Now, just a thought. Had such an order been implemented early in Independent India, how hockey would have looked like.

Only two IHF presidents and Secretaries served long enough to consider for our study.

Ashwini Kumar would not have continued beyond 70, that is, four years before he was actually done in and it took epic battle of about four years by his rivals to see him off. But remember he resigned, maintained dignity of office.

KPS Gill’s term would have ended in 2006, almost after the Monchengladbach World Cup. India need not have waited four more years, that is, till for Chile Disaster and then a sting operation that together forced the Indian Olympic Association to dissolve his IHF and thus disgrace him.

Now the question of Secretaries.

If my memory is correct, only Munir Sait (He is different from Olympian Munir Sait) had served hockey for about 11 years, that is almost four terms in those times.

Then comes the Secretary whose rise and fall we have all been witness.

Now the order says Secretaries tenure is only eight years. That means, K. Jothikumaran would not have continued beyond 2002, and would have been again eligible to contest in only 2006.

In India once if you vacate the seat nobody will again give you the chance. That almost meant Jothi’s career would have avoided the sting thing had this stipulation been in force then.