BANGALORE: In another swift move that consigned Hockey India to history, the Union sports ministry said on Friday that the Indian Olympic Association or Sports Authority of India would select and field the Indian hockey teams in international competitions from now on.
The ministry informed the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that this would be necessary in the interest of the game in the country as the HI is no longer the recognised national sports federation. The Sports Authority of India will be virtually in charge of the national teams, coordinating on the camps and tours till such time the IHF, which is now teh recognised body, takes over.
The ministry also told FIH not to assign any international tournament or have any commercial dealings with HI as it has assumed the character of a private body and no longer enjoys government recognition.
The IHF will be given adequate time to set in motion the unification process with the Indian Women's Hockey Federation but the sports ministry is categorical in its view that the KPS-Gill led body will have to kickstart the process in double quick time as well as keep its word on adhering to the government guidelines as it knuckles down to its work of governing the game again.
In its letter to FIH president Leandro Negre, the ministry said: "The president, IHF, has confirmed that the process of unification of the men and women hockey bodies at the national level is under way. It is expected to be completed soon. Once this process is completed, they will approach the FIH for recognition. Meanwhile, it is requested that the IOA or SAI may be permitted to field the Indian team for participating in various FIH recognised competitions."
The first of the tasks for IOA or SAI may be selecting the women's team for the World Cup in Rosario, Argentina later this month. The Commonwealth and Asian Games squads too may have to be chosen by either of these bodies in the coming weeks.
What can come as an irritant is the IHF's relationship with the FIH. With the FIH still backing Hockey India, the ministry feels the onus is on the IHF to effectively stake its claim. The fresh mandate to run the game - with the unification in place and government recognition - should convince the FIH adequately enough to change its stance, the ministry feels. In any case, how long can an international federation continue to back a ‘private body' which has lost the power to select a team that can legitimately represent India?
TOI
The ministry informed the International Hockey Federation (FIH) that this would be necessary in the interest of the game in the country as the HI is no longer the recognised national sports federation. The Sports Authority of India will be virtually in charge of the national teams, coordinating on the camps and tours till such time the IHF, which is now teh recognised body, takes over.
The ministry also told FIH not to assign any international tournament or have any commercial dealings with HI as it has assumed the character of a private body and no longer enjoys government recognition.
The IHF will be given adequate time to set in motion the unification process with the Indian Women's Hockey Federation but the sports ministry is categorical in its view that the KPS-Gill led body will have to kickstart the process in double quick time as well as keep its word on adhering to the government guidelines as it knuckles down to its work of governing the game again.
In its letter to FIH president Leandro Negre, the ministry said: "The president, IHF, has confirmed that the process of unification of the men and women hockey bodies at the national level is under way. It is expected to be completed soon. Once this process is completed, they will approach the FIH for recognition. Meanwhile, it is requested that the IOA or SAI may be permitted to field the Indian team for participating in various FIH recognised competitions."
The first of the tasks for IOA or SAI may be selecting the women's team for the World Cup in Rosario, Argentina later this month. The Commonwealth and Asian Games squads too may have to be chosen by either of these bodies in the coming weeks.
What can come as an irritant is the IHF's relationship with the FIH. With the FIH still backing Hockey India, the ministry feels the onus is on the IHF to effectively stake its claim. The fresh mandate to run the game - with the unification in place and government recognition - should convince the FIH adequately enough to change its stance, the ministry feels. In any case, how long can an international federation continue to back a ‘private body' which has lost the power to select a team that can legitimately represent India?
TOI
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