We may miss out on Olympics this time also: Ajit Pal

Former captain Ajit Pal Singh fears that the ongoing power tussle between Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) may result in the national team not qualifying for the London Olympics. India had to face the humiliation of missing the bus for 2008 Beijing Olympics for the
first time in the history of tournament when they lost in the qualifying tournament in Santiago, Chile.

“It is nothing but the struggle for power. Only three months have been left for qualification and no one is thinking about what needs to be done for that,” Ajit Pal, the 1975 World Cup wining captain, rued. “Whatever is happening is not good for hockey in India. It’s going to hurt only the game. If it continues in the same vein, we will miss the Olympics as we did during Beijing Games,” he said on the sidelines of a tournament here. Ajit Pal said everyone including, HI, IHF and world governing body FIH is responsible for the present mess.

“Everyone wants chair and money. We don’t know what will happen in these crucial three months.” HI and IHF had reached a working agreement in July with the help of the Sports Ministry, to govern the game but the FIH had shot down the plan, saying it was against its statues.