Trouble brewing between
IOA and hockey state units

By Sandeep Narayan in New Delhi

THE office bearers of the 28 state hockey associations, led by Bengal Hockey Association president JB Roy, on Wednesday met with the officials of the Indian Olympic Association controlled ad hoc committee to put their demands for early elections of the Indian Hockey Federation ( IHF).

They presented a memorandum, discussed their needs with the senior IOA officials and then had some tea like they were a couple of old friends meeting after a long time.

Seems cordial doesn’t it… not quite. What many may presume to be a harmless request is slowly turning in to a storm in the tea cup. While the JB Roy faction may assume that the IOA is serious in addressing their concerns, the fact is that the officials are just waiting till the High Court’s ruling on IHF’s elections before even considering taking such a drastic step.

“ The whole matter is sub- judice and frankly, we cannot comment on when or how the elections will be held. Their demands may be valid but that’s the way things are right now. They have to wait for the court’s ruling,” said a member of the ad hoc committee.

On Wednesday, the state associations gathered in New Delhi to announce their demands of holding the elections, but had stated that they were not anti- IOA. They felt that it was time power was handed back to the associations.

J B Roy said, “ We are not looking for a confrontation with IOA, but would urge IOA to take steps to usher in a democratically elected Indian Hockey Federation.

“ There is very strong view among the state associations that ad hoc approach to the state of affairs to hockey would only take hockey further away from its goals.” However, it seems that many in the IOA are not happy with the state associations and feel that this is one party’s attempt to gain power of hockey in India.

“ A lot of these people were with the KPS Gill faction a while back and now they have suddenly joined arms with the BHA and are voicing their concerns.

After we have done the dirty work of getting rid of Gill, they now want to reap the benefits.

Today they are with JB Roy and then tomorrow they might again join Gil,” an irked ad hoc committee member said.

“ We want elections just as much as the next person, but it should be planned and not rushed. The FIH does not recognise the IHF and suppose we give power back to the IHF, we could even lose the World Cup in the process,” he added.

Courtesy: Mail Today