An action causing more anguish than anger

S. Thyagarajan

Chennai: By constituting a motley group of officials, a majority of whom will be viewed as having no relevance to hockey, or its administration, the Indian Olympic Association’s creation of an apparatus to ward off the threat from International Hockey Federation is bound to fuel further disenchantment among the followers.

The hush-hush manner of the exercise, casting aside the norms that form the essence of democracy, causes more anguish than anger.

What the FIH was concerned about was the silence — call it indifference — to its direction of forming a unit to conform to the statutes of the FIH Constitution.

The President, Leandro Negre, left none in doubt during his first visit to Delhi that an administrative body must be in place by October if India is to conduct the World Cup in March 2010. The threat letter was a reminder to IOA and its ad hoc committee to show proof of efforts launched to form a unified body.
Taken aback

Predictably taken aback and alarmed by the tone and tenor of the threat to keep India out of all international competitions, the IOA has obviously embarked on a face saving measure. What is accomplished now is nothing but an enlargement of the ad hoc committee.

The IOA has made a mockery of the term ‘ad hoc’ and kept the hockey fraternity in a state of suspended animation for more than a year.

If IOA had shown real concern, then a federation, whatever may be its composition, could have been formed and recognised.

Apart from arranging for a few international matches and tournaments, the ad hoc committee has done precious little. Hockey under it was confined to 30 odd seniors and an equal number of juniors. More than a year has been wasted. A half-hearted and an unsuccessful effort to revive the National Championship made it a laughing stock.

The new dispensation is aimed to circumvent the FIH directive. It is bound to fuel the current mood of despair, and predictably, lead to prolonged legal wrangles, as though the existing ones are not enough.

Hockey India, as conceived and executed in the current methodology, is no panacea to deal with the ills afflicting a major sport linked to national pride. Even assuming the attempt is temporary the approach mirrors of an authoritarian streak and appears to be a clear case of over-reach.

The move to empower the state Olympic associations to identify and unify their hockey associations is a prescription to chaos. Inertia will be principal outcome of it.
Inexplicable logic

The logic behind retaining an official of the dismissed IWHF is inexplicable. The official has remained beyond her terms in the federation. And, what is the rationale of inducting officials controlling other important disciplines? And how much time can they devote to hockey apart from attending to their own work with only a year left for the Commonwealth Games?

Will the IOA take over the administration of all other inefficient and under-performing federations controlled by tainted officials? Such interrogations cannot elicit convincing answers.

More than letting down the huge hockey community in the country, the IOA, by its action on Hockey India, has taken the FIH for a jolly good ride. If the FIH lends credibility, or confers legitimacy to this creation in the prevailing circumstances, it will only erode its own image as the guardian of a world sport.

Courtesy: The Hindu