Even as the turf war continue for control of Indian hockey, the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) has suffered a major blow with its president RK Shetty resigned from the post citing “personal reasons”.

While there is speculation that Shetty quit due to differences with the other office-bearers in IHF, Shetty himself refuted the allegations. “I have a lot of other work to look after and my businesses have been suffering for some time now. I did not want my personal work to collide with my duties as IHF president and so decided to resign,” Shetty said from Bangalore.

Shetty, however, said that he will continue to be associated with the IHF. “I will be coming to Delhi for our Special General Body Meeting on November 5 and we will take a decision on the new president then. I may have resigned but I will continue to be a part of the IHF and available for any decision-making process,” he said.

The special GBM will also vote on adopting amendments to the IHF constitution which includes selecting a chairperson from amongst the elected office-bearers and who would be above the rest. Interestingly, past presidents of the IHF will also be eligible for the post of chairperson, a move most see as being aimed at bringing KPS Gill — currently an advisor to the IHF — back into the official fold.

Sources, in fact, have claimed that this particular amendment, along with differences with IHF secretary general Ashok Mathur, were behind Shetty’s resignation. “This is not true. I don’t know from where these rumours came. My resignation is completely on personal grounds,” Shetty reiterated.

Mathur, meanwhile, said that while Shetty had quit due to personal reasons, the federation would try to get him back during the special GBM. “We will try and convince Mr Shetty to take back his resignation. I am sure things will be worked out,” he said, but refused to elaborate on the reasons behind the resignation.

However, Shetty’s resignation leaves a lot of questions unanswered, and a lot of new headaches for the IHF which is already fighting several battles, both with Hockey India and the FIH. For more than a year, Shetty has been the face of IHF — both during the merger negotiations with the sports ministry and later while promoting the World Series Hockey. In his absence, the IHF will find it difficult to retain any trustworthiness from its partners.

Sources claim Shetty also had differences with WSH technical director and IHF managing committee member Joaquim Carvalho over the mismanagement of funds received from Nimbus and non-payment of award money to WSH players. In fact, Shetty had been one of the driving forces behind the inaugural edition of the WSH last year and his resignation puts a question mark over the conduct of the tournament this year.

Shetty, however, insists nothing will change. “The WSH will happen as scheduled and it’s not like I am quitting hockey altogether. I will still be there and part of the federation,” he said, but did not comment on whether Nimbus have been informed about the decision.