Hockey India ready to grant MHA affiliation: Carvalho

MUMBAI: The Hockey India is ready to grant affiliation to the Mumbai Hockey Association after their February 7 elections, provided the MHA withdraws its case filed in the Bombay High Court, MHA spokesperson Joaquim Carvalho claimed on Saturday.

“I got a call from HI treasurer Narendra Batra, who told me he was willing to give MHA affiliation after their elections. But they wanted us to withdraw the court case,” Carvalho said.

The Olympian said that it seems the HI officials have become jittery ahead of the elections because of a spate of court cases, which they are facing or are likely to face from units affiliated to the suspended Indian Hockey Federation.

“We have gone to court and so have Maharashtra, Vidarbha and Goa. Hyderabad, Bhopal and Tamil Nadu are also contemplating moving to court according to my information,” he said.

MHA had moved to the Bombay High Court against the national body of the game after being denied affiliation. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 25.