Aga Khan tourney to be held under Hockey India aegis

Unfazed by an Indian Hockey Federation directive to not revive the century-old Aga Khan tournament, the Bombay Gynmkhana is going ahead with its plan to hold the event from May 15-21.

“We are going ahead and reviving the tournament after nine years. All the teams who have been approached have confirmed their participation. We are not interested in hockey politics but only interested in bringing up our national game,” said Bombay Gymkhana President Ashok Rao at a media conference today.

IHF, via two letters to the Bombay Gymkhana who had approached rival body Hockey India directly to organise the tournament, has said the event is an “unauthorised” one.

Former India skipper Viren Rasquinha, who will play for the host Gymkhana along with another ex-captain and four-time Olympian Dhanraj Pillay, said the hockey players are only interested in playing the game.

“Hockey players are anguished to be caught in the cross-fire between the two bodies (IHF and HI). My advice to all the players and the teams is to take part in all the tournaments irrespective of who conducts them,” said the Olympian.

In a letter sent on May 6 as a follow-up to the earlier communication on April 28, IHF secretary general Ashok Mathur has termed the tournament as “unauthorised” as it was being held under the aegis of Hockey India which, he said, was not recognised by the union government.