asian hockey federation council meeting – AHF supports IHF ad hoc panel

Gill attends meet, India withdraws Asia Cup bid

THE EXPECTED confrontation between KPS Gill, the suspended president of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), and members of the adhoc committee did not materialise here on Thursday.

For one, the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) decided to stick to its agenda of development of hockey at the continental level at its 49th council meeting while the ad hoc committee was conveniently busy in what the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Suresh Kalmadi called an “informal meeting” with International hockey president (FIH) president Els van Brenda Viresman and other officials.

Though the duration of the AHF meeting – four hours – did raise some doubts, AHF officials claimed the issue of the IHF suspension was not raised. Later, Gill too confirmed that he did not raise the issue.

However, there was no good news for Gill either as the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) gave tacit support to the ad hoc committee as the body with the mandate to run the sport in India.

AHF secretary P Alagendra said Gill attended the council meeting as a vice-president of AHF and repeatedly refused to answer any questions regarding the IHF imbroglio.

“The matter is not related to the council meeting,” he repeatedly said in response to queries raised on In dia’s official representative at the meeting and the status of the suspended body led by Gill.

Incidentally, three Indians, Indian Women’s Hockey Federation president Vidya Stokes and secretary Amrit Bose, apart from Gill, attended the meeting.

Alagendra said that though suspended from IHF, Gill was entitled to attend the AHF council meeting as its elected vice-president.

“The council was elected in 2006 for four years, so every member is entitled to attend its meetings till the end of his tenure,” he said. He, however, admitted that there were provisions for suspension membership of anyone at the extra-ordinary general body meeting.

He also said that AHF would interact with the ad hoc committee regarding programmes related to India till “competent authorities” recognise it.

It means Gill can attend the AHF meetings as a council member while the ad hoc committee will continue to rule the sport in the country till the IOA calls for fresh elections or dissolves the ad hoc committee.

Gill too seemed to have accepted his situation, though there were indications that he did express his disappointment at the current situation and the ad hoc committee’s handling of affairs. Asia Cup in Dubai Meanwhile, India withdrew its bid for the 2009 senior men’s Asia Cup at the last moment so as to avoid any embarrassing situation in the AHF council meeting.

The event, which is the Asian qualifier for the 2010 World Cup, which has been provisionally awarded to India, was allotted to Dubai and the dates would be announced in two months. There is a proposal to increase the number of participants from eight to ten.

The AHF also decided to introduce the Asian Champions Trophy, on the lines of the Champions Trophy, conducted by the FIH for the six best teams in the world, from 2009. The Asian Champions Trophy will have the four best teams in the Asia Cup fighting out for the top honours.

The AHF will also introduce two more events, an Asian Indoor Championship and an Asia vs Europe Test series. “We have also decided that hockey will be part of all the regional games like South East Asian Games.”

“The European Hockey Federation has provisionally accepted the proposal and the full details about venue and dates will be worked out soon. There will be six matches, three in Asia and remaining in Europe. An Asian All Star team, selected through the Asian Champions Trophy and Asia Cup, will be picked to take on Europe,” said Alagendra.

The AHF also decided to concentrate on indoor hockey to prepare the continental teams for the 2011 World Cup Indoor Hockey Championship.