Hockey greats favour one apex body

KOLKATA: Hockey Olympians Ashok Kumar and Vasudevan Bhaskaran on Friday pleaded for one apex body and stopping the mockery going around in the game in the country.

“There should be one body. It should be one for all. If the government is recognising Hockey India, then there is no federation,” former India captain Bhaskaran said.

“Centre should form a committee with all the professional players and veterans and based on their suggestions they should go ahead,” he said.

Son of legendary Dhyanchand, Ashok Kumar said, “Since the body has been now been derecognised, government should give full powers to IHF and hold its elections. Everybody is frustrated at state and district levels. Sanity should prevail on the field and players’ performance should remain unaffected.”

The two stalwarts, who were here for a felicitation programme, said the government should give full powers to one body.

Within hours of Hockey India’s controversial elections, Sports Ministry yesterday withdrew the provisional recognition claiming that the federation violated its guidelines.

Asked for his comments on Vidya Stokes victory over former captain Pargat Singh for the post of HI president, Ashok Kumar said, “You know how elections are won. Without money and power you cannot win elections. If you have power with the support from government then obviously you will have more influence.”

Ashok Kumar also urged city’s big two clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal to come forward and revive hockey.

He said key to hockey’s revival is the big clubs’ participation.

“I started my career in Kolkata. It is sad to see the standard of the sport in the city. Big clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal should come forward and revive hockey,” he said.