Negre supporting the Indian Sports Minister’s initiative to merge the two rivalry hockey bodies
On Saturday, June 11, India’s Sports Minister, Ajay Maken, notified both the hockey bodies, Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), to get merged so that the controversies may come to an end.
In a response to this initiative taken by Maken, International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) President, Leandro Negre, expressed his complete support with regards to uniting both the sport bodies.
He commented that in order to earn back Indian hockey’s lost repute, the stepping stone will be unity within India Hockey. The two bodies have been given a deadline of two days or will be responsible for the strict action taken against them by the Sports
Ministry.
This effort will allow the country’s players to escape their state of double-mindedness regarding the authenticity of the hockey events being conducted by both the bodies in an overlapping manner.
This warning was issued by Maken after holding a meeting with the Presidents of both the adversaries.
Maken commented, “We have given a balanced proposal to HI and IHF with equal importance to both the federations. We have given them time till Tuesday evening to send their response in writing. We have told them to give us a joint response instead of separate
ones.”
The actual proposal given to the bodies includes that HI’s existing executive board of 17 must be increased to 33 members, which means to include the 16-member board of IHF into it. This board will remain in-power until October 2014.
Another offer was made by the ministry with regard to appointing KPS Gill as HI’s life patron.
He continued that in case of disagreement, strong action will be taken and the Supreme Court shall also be contacted in this regard.
Negre commented over this situation, while talking to media in Barcelona, Spain, that it will not be favourable to increase the board-members because it may affect the efficiency of the body. Priority must be given to the quality of personnel as compared
to quantity. Moreover, he suggested that members having the potential to make the right decisions are the need of the hour.
Negre remarked, “For us, three things matter the most: a sole governing body, has to be recognised by the IOA and should proceed with free and fair elections. As long as HI meets these criteria, we are happy with it. We have been trying to get the two bodies
together for a long time. If a solution comes out soon, it is good for the game in India.”
In addition to this, Negre also supported the proposal of patronage to Gill and said that this offer was given to him two years back. However, one disagreement that the FIH head had with Gill was the accusation over the FIH and HI to inappropriately use
the funds for the last year’s World Cup, held in New Delhi.
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