‘FIH cannot run Indian hockey’

Vaibhav Sharma

The relation between Indian hockey and chaos is a never-ending one. Even before the cheers of an on-field accomplishment die down, the jeers of an off-field controversy start surfacing.

During an year when the sport, and all who are in it, should be focusing on Olympic qualification (India missed out on the 2008 Olympics), the FIH-IHF-HI drama is the only thing making headlines.

For former coach MK Kaushik, this is probably the lowest ebb he has seen Indian hockey at. “The way things are happening is damaging for the sport. Hockey India (HI) is definitely not realizing the amount of damage their antics have done to the game.

“The FIH prefers HI over any other body for they have found a way to milk the sport through HI. Otherwise why the obsession with only HI running the sport? How can they question our courts, and our ministry and say that even a meger (between IHF and HI) is not acceptable to them?”

Kaushik adds that IHF had to bear the brunt of the deeds of one corrupt person, but if those are to be the grounds, then the IOA and HI bodies should be sacked entirely. “The World Series Hockey was a step in the right direction. But it seems everytime Indian hockey tries to fight, these people push it back even deeper.”

Even former India coach Harendra Singh feels that the welfare of the sport is paramount and nobody’s ego should interfere with that.

“The main issue is not who will run the sport, rather how will they run it. People at such levels should realize that with maturity, they can end this bickering and bring about a good enough solution that helps hockey grow.”

But former Olympian MP Singh believes that the most objectionable thing today is that the FIH is trying to overrule the Sports Ministry as well as a high court verdict that recognizes IHF as the official body. “The FIH has no rights and no business trying to muscle its way in and dictate how the sport is run in our country.

They are not alone though and it is a case of someone from within telling them how to ruin the situation. It is a shameful scenario and it is time that we don’t abide by all their unreasonable demands. We have to stand up and set an example.”

He further adds, “They are threatening to bar the team from the Olympics, but this is not the time to surrender. We know they, with the alliance of Hockey India, are hurting Indian hockey and we have to oppose it. Instead of building a future for the sport, they are systematically killing it off. Just look at how the number of tournaments held every year has dropped drastically. They are pitting people against each other and hurting hockey.”

Not game for chaos

The main issue is not who will run the sport, rather how will they run it. People at such levels should realize that with maturity, they can end this bickering and bring about a good enough solution that helps hockey grow.

The FIH prefers HI over any other body for they have found a way to milk the sport through HI. Otherwise why the obsession with only HI running the sport? How can they question our courts, and our ministry and say that even a meger is not acceptable to them?”