Hockey India likely to merge with Indian Hockey Federation: Hockey News
It seems that the long-standing confrontation between the rivalry Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Hockey India (HI) is going to end, which will be a major step towards the revival of hockey in the country.
The three-parties, HI, IHF and the Sports Ministry sat together to figure out the long-standing issue regarding the governing body of the sport. The representatives of all the parties exchanged pleasing words with each other, but they could not reach
on power-sharing formula.
The meeting among Ajay Maken, the Sports Minister, Narendra Batra, the Secretary General of HI and RK Shetty, the IHF Chief failed to bring any positive results despite serious efforts.
It was the Sports Minister who summoned the meeting in a bid to resolve the controversies between the warring factions and merge them into a solitary unit. However, the unification could not happen due to power-sharing matters.
Speaking to the media following the meeting, the Minister expressed hopes that the differences between the two factions would be resolved at the earliest. He said, “We’ve given time till Tuesday to respond to the proposal in writing. We have also told
them that instead of two replies, we will greatly appreciate if they can send only one. We are hopeful that the two bodies will come together, now that we have given them equal importance to both the bodies,”
In case of failure, the minister also warned of severe action against the parties, besides taking the whole matter before the Supreme Court of India. It is vital to mention here that the apex court had directed the two parties to resolve the issues
through negotiation.
In a three-party meeting, it was proposed that the Executive Committee of the HI should be extended up to 33 members, out of which 16 members will be from IHF. It will be comprised of a Senior Vice President, six Vice Presidents, four Joint Secretaries
and five Executive Members. On the other hand, it is also proposed that KPS Gill should be appointed as a Life Patron of the merging unit. However, he would not have the voting rights. In the meantime, the three-member working committee will be stretched up
to five members.
The meeting however proposed that the newly merging body will continue the name of HI, as it is accredited with the International Olympic Association (IOA) and the world governing body, namely International Hockey Federation (FIH).
At a time when the warring federations are going to merge with each other, their representatives are not ready to speak to each other. Narinder Batra, the HI Secretary General, declined to comment on the situation saying that they had not reviewed
the complete proposal of the ministry.
Similar to Batra, RK Shetty, the President of the IHF was of the opinion that they would reply point-by-point after the review has been completed. At the same time, Shetty welcomed the decision of unification of the bodies.
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