IHF makes a comeback

M.S.Unnikrishnan

Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to de-recognise Hockey has given validation to the KPS Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation whose ban by the Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had been upturned by the Delhi High Court recently. The IHF had expressed its desire to merge with the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation (IWHF) to form a unified body to get the recognition of the FIH.

The Ministry also conveyed its decision in a letter to International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Leandro Negre today, and requested him to allow the IOA or the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to field the Indian team for participation in various FIH-recognised tournaments. “This would be necessary in the interest of Indian hockey”, the Ministry added.

The Ministry informed Negre that in view of the Ministry’s decision to derecognise HI, which, incidentally put a properly elected body yesterday as demanded by the FIH, “The 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.”

“In view of these developments, the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) stands recognised by the Government as the sole NSF for hockey in India, in the light of the judgement dated 21-5-2010 of the High Court of Delhi, which has also been accepted by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as well as the HI before the High Court”, the Ministry further explained.

It said once the IHF became fully compliant with the constitution of the FIH, they will approach the international body for recognition/affiliation/membership. “The IHF is a long-standing body, which was steup in 1928, and the IWHF too was setup 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”, the Ministry told the FIH.

The Ministry requested the FIH “not to assign any international tournament or have any commercial dealings with the HI under the impression that they are the NSF for hockey in India because they no longer enjoy the government recognition, and have assumed the character of a private body”, the Ministry letter clarified.

The Ministry’s decision came following the HI decision not to adhere to the Ministry’s guidelines, as the very election of 83-year-old Vidya Stokes as the president of the HI yesterday, was in clear violation of the age cap of 70 put by the Ministry for an office-bearer to superannuate.

The HI, however, argues that the conditions that prevailed at the time of grant of recognition to HI continues to exist, and the HI had the recognition of the IOA and the FIH “and therefore HI alone can represent the country in international competitions”. “The Government recognition is no more than a ministerial act for the purpose of extending financial assistance, which HI is not seeking any more”, the HI replied to the Government.

It is no secret that the newly-elected HI has the sanction of the IOA and the FIH, and unless the international body decides to sidestep HI, it will continue to call the shots in Indian hockey. But with a few hiccups. Will a hockey team, selected without the approval of the Government, be elegible to play under banner of the Indian flag? Or will it be a mere private team, selected by a private body? The players may also be not eligible for the cash awards of the Government if a team without the Ministry’s approval compete in an international event and win a medal.

The Government-HI tussle will have an immediate impact on India’s participation in the upcoming Women’s World Cup, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games, and the players would be the worst sufferers.