Sports Ministry appeals to FIH

The Union Sports Ministry has appealed to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to allow India’s participation in tournaments held under the aegis of the world body.

In a communication to the FIH on Friday, the government has said, “It is requested that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) or the Sports Authority of India (SAI) may be permitted to field the Indian team for participating in various FIH recognised tournaments. This would be necessary in the interest of hockey in India.”

The government’s plea comes in the wake of Hockey India’s de-recognition on Thursday due to the latter’s declaration that it was a private body. “HI is no more the recognised National Sports Federation (NSF) for the management, control and promotion of hockey in the country, and is also not authorised to select and field the national team in international competitions,” the FIH was informed.

The Indian women’s team is scheduled to participate in the World Cup to be held in Rosario, Argentina from August 29 to September 11.

“You are requested not to assign any international tournament or have any commercial dealings with HI under the impression that they are the NSF for hockey in India because they have assumed the character of a private body,” the government told the FIH.

Citing the High Court judgement, accepted by the HI and the IOA, the sports ministry wrote in the letter, “The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) stands recognised by the government as the sole NSF for hockey in India. The IHF president has confirmed that the process of unification of men and women hockey bodies at the national level is underway, and is expected to be completed soon. Once this process is completed and IHF becomes fully compliant with the constitution of the FIH, they will approach FIH for recognition/ affiliation/membership.

The process is expected to be completed very soon and the government will closely monitor it.”

In praise of the IHF, the government said, “It may kindly be noted that the IHF is a long-standing body, which was set up in 1928, and the Indian Women Hockey Federation (IWHF) was set up in 1951.

Hence, post merger there should not be any doubt about their capacity to take care of the promotion and development of hockey in India.”