Current president of Hockey India Narinder Dhruv Batra is bracing for contesting top post in the Federation Internationale de Hockey.

Leondro Negre, who succeeded Breda Els van Vriesman seven years ago, has expressed his unwillingness to contest for the third term.

Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), which has received Leondro’s communication, has welcomed HI President for the FIH president candidacy.

The AHF said: The AHF under the leadership of HRH Prince Abdullah recognises the tremendous efforts and achievements of Dr. Narinder Batra for his professionalism and bringing revolutionary changes in Hockey India and his contribution to FIH and world Hockey Family. We at AHF very much admire his global vision for hockey. ……. It should be noted that for more than three decades, Asia has the major contribution to the global revenues of FIH and leading role of Dr. Batra has been significant…….. AHF wishes Dr. Narindar Batra a successful journey towards his mission.

He is currently member of the Competition Committee of FIH, been awarded FIH President’s Award inNovember 2014.

We will shortly publish comments of HI President. Look out for this space for more.

Batra entered hockey in the early 2000 when his province JKHA organized the Sr National Championship. He was soon inducted by the then Indian Hockey Federation, into its fold as one of the seven Vice Presidents.

Soon he challenged the unprofessional functioning of the IHF. When the IHF was dissolved by the Indian Olympic Association in the aftermath of India’s failure to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the consequent TV sting involving his Secretary General, Batra was made treasurer of Adhoc Committee formed to run the hockey affairs.

The Adhoc Committee was headed by IOA President Suresh Kalmadi.

As things turned out, the IHF run into existence problems with the FIH, which had just then allotted the World Cup to India.

Six months before the 2010 March World Cup was to come off, a new organization called Hockey India was put on board with the sanction of the FIH.

In the first ever HI election held after much deferments and postponements, Batra’s panel headed by Vidhya Stokes won the elections handsdown against Pargat Singh’s.

ND Batra was elected to Secretary General.

The tussle between IHF and HI for Indian hockey’s administration has come to an end early this year when the CAS adjudicated the mantle in favour of HI.