''Headed by A.K. Mattoo, Treasurer, IOA, the new body, named Hockey India, was registered on May 20, within the 15-day deadline given by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) for the formation of a unified Indian federation. The FIH wrote on May 5 to the IOA threatening India’s debarment from international hockey.
“We reiterate that in case no positive concrete action is taken, the participation of the Indian teams in all international hockey events, under the aegis of FIH, will not be permitted,” a letter from the FIH President stated. ''
THE hastily formed Hockey India hit troubled waters even before it could learn to swim, and is expected to sink after a heavy load of litigation is placed on its back.
NEW DELHI (AP) — An attempt to form a new national field hockey organization in India was opposed Thursday by state officials, who termed the move illegal.
The Indian Olympic Association announced the formation of a unified body — Hockey India — on Wednesday after the International Hockey Federation threatened to take the World Cup away from New Delhi if the country did not have a single national association governing both the men’s and women’s game.
The IOA said it had given provisional affiliation to Hockey India, while disaffiliating the two associations separately running men’s and women’s hockey.
J.B. Roy, president of the Bengal Hockey Association, a state unit affiliated to the men’s Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), said the IOA’s act was “illegal” and did not have the backing of existing bodies.
“How can the IOA unilaterally decide to form a body without any representation from the stake holders?” Roy said.
He said only the men’s and women’s national associations had the right to form a unified body, not an outside agency, even if it happened to be the national Olympic committee.
“The new association is completely unconstitutional. We have already sent a legal representation to the country’s Sports Minister,” Roy said.
