The office-bearers of 28 state hockey associations in the country today reiterated their demand for early elections to the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF). The state association representatives have gathered in the capital to unveil a campaign to revive hockey in India.

The state representatives met senior IOA officials here today and presented them with a memorandum seeking early elections to IHF. The memorandum listed holding of early elections to enable nomination of democratically elected office bearers to the premier hockey body. This, the memorandum stressed, was the first major step to put the national game back on track.

The delegation was scheduled to meet Mr. Raja Randhir Singh, honorary secretary, IOA, who had to call the meeting off due to some unscheduled personal pre-occupations. In his absence, Mr. Aslam Khan, Convener, Adhoc Committee (IHF) and Mr. Rajiv Mehta, joint convener, Adhoc Committee (IHF) received the memorandum on behalf of Mr. Singh. The delegation could not meet Mr. Suresh Kalmadi, president, IOA, who is currently out of the capital.

IOA executives receiving the memorandum assured the delegation that they would take the issue with the relevant authorities at IOA expeditiously and revert with a firm response to the delegation demand for early election.

Mr. J B Roy, President, Bengal Hockey Association, and Convener, State Hockey Associations’ led the delegation of 28 state hockey associations’ office bearers to IOA. He said, “We are not in confrontation with IOA but would urge IOA to take expeditious steps to usher in a democratically elected Indian Hockey Federation to spearhead the revival of hockey in the country.”

Mr. Roy added, “There is very strong view among the state associations that ad adhoc approach to the state of affairs to hockey would only take hockey further away from its much deserved due.”

Media Release by the SHAs