KPS Gill backs Hockey India, but conditions apply

New Delhi: It’s been a long time since one last saw a relaxed KPS Gill laughing at every question and amusing journalists with shaayari. On Sunday, though, the erstwhile president of the suspended Indian Hockey Federation made sure there would be no disgruntled faces at the media briefing called to announce his support, albeit conditional, to the newly formed Hockey India.

Following a meeting of state units — the organisers put the number at 20, besides three union territories and armed with letters of support from three others — and Hockey India, Gill announced there was no point living in the past. “What has happened has happened. We have to move forward now,” he said, saying that Hockey India was here to stay.

Asked about the apparent volte-face in his coming together with the same body that suspended the IHF, Gill said: “If India and Pakistan can talk to each other, can’t we even talk things out among ourselves?”

However, behind all the camaraderie, it was obvious that there was more to the development. The fact that the IHF has formed a six-member sub-committee to work out the modalities of the merger of the men’s and women’s state units within 45 days makes it evident that it hasn’t happened overnight.

Also, the Indian Olympic Association has been in contact with Gill since late last year, attempting to secure his support in return for withdrawing a legal cases by either side (as reported by The Indian Express).

Joint petition

On Sunday, Gill all but admitted this as one of the conditions for supporting Hockey India. “We’ve asked our advocates to work together and put up a joint petition in the court (to settle the cases against IOA),” he said. “We have 28 states and five union territories under us of which the majority attended today’s meeting. We’ve been having discussions for quite some time,” he added.

In fact, it was revealed that about “10 states have ensured that they will carry out the proposed merger within a week’s time” while “10 others have ensured it will be done at the earliest”. Hockey India secretary Mohammad Aslam Khan said he was hopeful of elections to Hockey India within the next three months.

Interestingly, the man who set the whole cycle in motion last year, and was the bone of contention between Gill and the rival group led by JB Roy — former IHF secretary general K Jothikumaran — was also present at the meeting as the Tamil Nadu Hockey Association secretary, though he didn’t comment.

Meanwhile, with this move, the protest against Hockey India by the rebel group led by Bengal Hockey Association president JB Roy is likely to be further weakened. A meeting of around 28 state associations and several women’s associations is being held in Aamby Valley but sources say the numbers are immaterial.

“Most state associations are trying to keep both sides happy by assuring support and playing a waiting game,” they say. JB Roy was not available for comment.