Mumbai Hockey Association welcomes return of IHF

MUMBAI: Mumbai Hockey Association, which got the rough end of the stick from Hockey India when it sought affiliation from the new body, expressed glee at the Delhi High Court verdict that quashed the Centre’s 2008 order to de-recognise the Indian Hockey Federation.

“We are very happy that IHF is back. Hockey India not only refused to recognise us but also did not accept proof of our existence since 1934,” MHA secretary and Olympian Gurbux Singh Grewal said from Chandigarh.

Grewal, a member of the 1968 bronze medal winning Indian squad, hoped now better sense would prevail and the two Gills, Union Sports Minister M S Gill and IHF president K P S Gill, would sit together with the Indian Olympic Association top brass and sort out all problems.

“I’m sure it’s just a question of a few minutes once these gentlemen sit together to sort out the problem,” he said.

Another MHA official said that not only will the court verdict come as a boon to Mumbai but also to other associations like Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Madhya Bharat and Andhra which were not getting recognition from Hockey India.

“Bhopal is in existence since 1932, we are there from 1934 while Maharashtra and Vidarbha are there from 1953 and 1958 respectively,” he pointed out.

The official also hoped that the long-awaited senior nationals for the Rangaswamy Cup and Federation Cup would be held soon by IHF.