George Koshy v Nur Azmi...

AS expected, Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal became the sixth Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) presdient when nominations closed at noon Tuesday.
  Subahan took over the hot-seat unchallenged, but both the men's and women's deputy presidents posts will be two-cornered fights in the May 13 elections.
  Incumbent vice-president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad will battle with former Kuala Lumpur HA president George Koshy for the men's deputy president's post.
  While for the women's deputy president post, incumbent vice-presidents S. Shamala and K. Maheswari will lock horns.
  There were seven nominations for the men's veeep positions with Datuk Rahim Ariff and Manjit Majid Abdullah seeking re-election. MHC adviser and Penang HA president Datuk Ow Soon Kooi is also seeeking to become a vice-president, and so if former MHC treasurer Datuk N. Radhakrishnan 
   Sathis Kumar, Kedah HA president, A. Vijayshankar and Datuk Wan Ahmad Nizam are the other hopefuls for the five men's veep positions.
  The women's vice-presidents, two posts, will see a three-cornered fight among Juriah Abdul Wahab, Nik Zarah KAdir and S. Nagula.
  Koshy, team manager for the last 16 years, was also the man behind the success of Malaysia Hockey League team that transformed from Arthur Anderson, Ernst And Young to Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club.
  His challenger Nur Azmi is the current vice-president as well as team manager to the national seniors.
  "I have been involved with hockey for a long time, from my school days, until the MHL right up to managing the national team. I know I can contribute in the administration side of the MHC, and thats why I decided to stand for election," said Koshy.

Subahan new MHC president

DATUK Seri Subahan Kamal became the 6th Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president when nominations closed at 12noon just now.
  He had no challengers for the hot seat... more to follow.

Koshy signs in for deputy president battle...

GEORGE Koshy (pic) will only stand for the deputy president's post, leaving Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal as a most likely unopposed president of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC).
  Nominations close at noon Tuesday, and early indications are that Subahan, the current Selangor HA president, will replace Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah as the sixth president of the Confederation.
  "Yes, Koshy has signed the nomination form for deputy president and will not stand for the president's post. Our other candidate for women's deputy president K. Maheshwary has also signed the nomination form," said Kuala Lumpur HA secretary V. Rajamanickam.
  Even with just one day to go, only four states had sent in their nominations and Sabah, Sarawak and Kedah had all named Subahan as president. To be eligible to stand as president one needs three nominations and Subahan has already received his.
  With the top post unopposed, stiff battle lines have been drawn for the men and women's deputy president. At this stage, Koshy is going to be challenged by incumbent vice-president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad.
  And it will be a vice-president's upgrade battle in the women's section when incumbents S. Shamala and Mahesari go for the deputy president's post.
  Elections will be held on May 13, and nominees have until May 9 to withdraw from the race.
  Also making an exit will be incumbent deputy president Puan Sri Raja Noora Ashikin who will not be seeking re-election.
  The new MHC constitution did away with the secretary's post and replaced it with a CEO, while there will be two deputy president's to govern both genders. Seven vice-president's posts will also be contested.
  During the earlier nominations which were cancelled due to a messed up constitution, Subahan won unopposed with 12 states nominating him, while Shamala had the highest nomination (men as well as women) for vice-president with 11 states backing her quest.
  The Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) was formed in 1953 and the first president was Tun Abdul Razak (1957–1976) followed by Sultan Azlan Shah (2002–2004), Raja Nazrin Shah (2004–2006), Admiral Tan Sri Mohammad Anwar Mohammad Nor (19 Dec 2006–1 Nov 2008) and
Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah (1 Nov 2008-13 May 2015).

Maheswari gunning for golden finish...

K. MAHESWARI was among the last batch of Malaysian women that won the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games bronze medal, and come May 13, she will be looking for a golden outing.
  The incumbent Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) vice-president will be going for broke when she challengers S. Shamala for the women's deputy president post.
  But Maheswari, Group Chief Regulatory Officer at Kenanga Group, made it clear that she is not in a battle with her challenger, but will go for broke in a fight to salvage women's hockey.
  "I was fortunate, or you can call it unfortunate, to be in the last women's hockey team which won a medal at the Asian Games. It has been a long 33 years since we last touched a medal at that level, which portrays the state of the sport.
  "And I want to make it clear that I'm not in a battle with my opponent, but in a fight to salvage the women's section," said Maheswari.
  The MHC vice president also revealed that her current position in MHC was just as an endorser, after decisions are made.
  "Most of the time we were just told after decisions and plans were made and so I could not actively involve myself even though I was a vice-president. The deputy president is a decision making post, and that's why I am keen to see myself at the top of the podium so that I can play a more active role," said the former international who has been nominated by Kuala Lumpur HA.
  Nominations close on April 28 and the last day for withdrawals is May 9. As of today, Maheswari's challenger is Shamala, also an incumbent vice-president.
  When asked if she has started her state-wide campaign: "I'm not the kind of person who would pick up the phone and call state affiliates looking for votes. The affiliates know my work-rate as I have been in the hockey circle for a long time. Yes, some states did call and ask me if I'm interested, but I'm not the kind who will go on a campaign trail."
  There is a proposed line-up linking her to a certain camp, making its round on social media as the election fever heightens.
  "No Im not linked to any camp. Actually I do not favour taking sides in camps or campaigns, but would rather the delegates make their own line-up on voting day."
  With MHC president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and deputy president Puan Sri Raja Noora Ashikin not seeking re-election, May 13 looks set to be a battle of many fronts for every position.
  Thirty-two delegates will cast their votes, half of them women, for 10 posts -- president, two deputy presidents, and seven vice-presidents.
  Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal will stand for president and KLHA have names George Koshy as his challenger. George and Subahan would need three nominations to be eligible to contest the post.
  Koshy has also been nominated as the men's deputy president, and he is expected to announce his decision on which post he will stand when nominations close.
  Incumbent vice-president Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad has also said he will be going for broke, for the deputy's post.
  The new MHC constitution did away with the secretary's post and replaced it with a CEO, while there will be two deputy president's to govern both genders.

Former journo Johnson Fernandez new KLHA president..

FORMER journalist Johnson Fernandez (pic) was given the mandate to become the new president of Kuala Lumpur Hockey Association (KLHA).
  KLHA is the most active association in the country, and Johnson had no challengers to the hot seat.
  In fact, all the office bearers were unopposed, with V. Rajamanickam 
returned as secretary.. a post he has held for the last 22 years.
  Abu Huraira Yazid is still deputy president while the vice-presidents are Mej (rtd) Raj Kumar, Faithal Hassan, S. Samson and James Andrew. Daljit Singh remained as treasurer.
  Founded in 1981, KLHA has many divisions in their league, as well as a handful of development programmes running simultaneously. There's never a dull moment at their field at Jalan Pantai.
  Johnson, during his journalism days, was a hard-hitting columnist who had hockey closest to his heart.
  "It's a honour to be the fourth president of KLHA, and I have many plans for the association, but I can't say much until I have a discussion with my council members at a later date," said Johnson.
  Rajamanickam said the priority would be fund-raising as they have a full calender every season.
  "We are a very active association but money is short after our president George Koshy left us. He use to fund many of our programmes, but now we will have to look for sponsors and that's our first priority now," said Rajamanickam.
  The 'new' KLHA council then nominated Koshy for president and deputy president at the May 13 Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) elections.
  If Koshy gets two more nominations, he will be eligible to stand for presdient and the challenger would be Selangor HA president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal.
  "We have nominated George for president as well as deputy president for the MHC elections, while former KLHA vice-president K. Maheswari has been nominated for the women deputy president’s post," said Rajamanickam.
  S. Shamala, current MHC vice-president, will also stand for the women's deputy presdient elections. In the men's section, Datuk Nur Azmi Ahmad will be challenging Koshy and any other nominees.
  "KLHA feel Shamala is wearing too many hats as she is also a council member of AHF (Asian Hockey Federation), in the FIH committee as well as vice-president of the Selangor HA.
  "That's why we nominated former player Maheswari as she would be more available in MHC matters," said Rajamanickam.
  However, Koshy and Maheswari were not consulted on their nominations, which close on April 28. They have until May 9 to withdraw from the race.
  Kooshy has repeatedly said that he does not want to stand for the MHC president's post and efforts to contact him were not returned.