IOA convenes IHF-HI meeting

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has taken serious note of the letter written by International Hockey Federation (FIH) president Leandro Negre and has convened an urgent meeting of Hockey India (HI) and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) here on October 4 to defuse the explosive situation.

The meeting will discuss the issues raised by the FIH in its letter to the Sports Ministry and all the stakeholders of Indian hockey and will try to find out an amicable solution to the satisfaction of all. IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said he was confident of thrashing out a solution, so as not to impair the country’s participation in the 2012 London Olympics.

“I am quite hopeful that in the interest of the country and the game, the matter will be resolved. All have the good of the game and country at heart,” he stated.

The FIH letter had warned that India’s participation in the London Olympics and other international events may be jeopardised if issues relating to the governance of the sport were not resolved soon. The FIH had recently shifted the Champions Trophy from New Delhi to Auckland as it did not approve of the joint working relationship thrashed out at the behest of the ministry between IHF and HI.

None connected with Indian hockey would favour India losing out the chance to host the Olympic qualifiers in Delhi, in February next year. Hence, the IOA has taken a pro-active stance to thrash out the differences to the satisfaction of the FIH.

Malhotra said he was optimistic that the Olympic qualifiers will be held in New Delhi as scheduled and the country’s participation in FIH-sanctioned events will continue unhindered. “My optimism is based on the talks I had with FIH president Leandro Negre at my residence recently, during which I had made IOA’s stand very clear on the issues raised by him,” Malhotra explained.

He said like the FIH, the IOA was committed to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Charter, which clearly stated that only one association will be allowed for one sport. “I told Mr. Negre that we do not approve of two federations for one game, be it hockey or any other discipline,” he added.

Malhotra, however, expressed surprise over the FIH’s insistence of Government intervention in the IHF-HI dispute. “The IOC Charter, by which the FIH also swears, clearly states that Government should not intervene in the dispute of a federation when the NOC is looking into it.

“The IOA is monitoring the developments relating to hockey and recognises HI as the sole body for the game. So why the FIH wants to involve the Government in this matter?” he asked.

In a letter dated September 27, Negre had asked the Sports Ministry to advise HI and the IHF against proceeding on their ‘settlement’ reached in July. It had also suggested that all lawsuits relating to the governance of hockey “must be finally resolved and terminated”. The FIH has insisted that the Government recognises HI as the sole governing body of hockey in India and not support any other unsanctioned federation.

“The IOA is the supreme sports body in the country and all the National Federations and associations function under it. Nobody can function without its approval and recognition so FIH’s fetish to insist on Government intervention clearly goes against the IOC Charter,” Malhotra noted.

He said the judiciary in India was independent and nobody dares dictate it. He also reminded the FIH that India remained the heart and soul of hockey and it was not conceivable to see hockey progress in the world without India.

Malhotra appreciated Negre’s view that by adhering to the Olympic Charter and the FIH statutes “there will be no concerns” about India’s participation in the Olympics and the FIH-sanctioned competitions.