New Delhi: International Hockey Federation today defended extending the deadline for Hockey India's elections but also asserted that India would be barred from next year's World Cup if they fail to put in place a democratically elected body by the end of January.
FIH President Leandro Negre said HI was given time till
January end to settle all the affiliation issues of the state
units to form a unified body keeping in mind the enormous
paperworks involved in the process.
"India is a vast country, so problems will always be
there and it needs time to merge all the states together,"
Negre told reporters here after signing the Presenting Partner
agreement of the mega-event with the Steel Authority of India
for the 2010 FIH Hero Honda World Cup.
"The FIH Vice President recently visited India and
informed me exactly what is happening there. When he told me
that elections need to be postponed, I immediately agreed.
"Yes, it is very close to World Cup but we have to look
at the positive side," Negre said.
During his visit this month, FIH Vice President Antonio
von Ondarza granted an extension to HI till January end to
conduct the polls after the ad-hoc national federation had
missed the original November 20 deadline.
The FIH chief, however, reiterated that failing the
deadline, India would be barred from participating in the
mega-event to be held here from February 28 to March 13.
"India is key for world hockey but we maintain that as
per our constitution, there should be a elected body before
the World Cup. If they fail, we have to follow FIH
constitution but hopefully that will not happen. I am sure
elections will be over before the World Cup," Negre said.
"We are here to guarantee that all the procedures are
completed within the given time. All the problems will be
sorted out once democratically elected body is in place.
"I have lot of faith in Sports Minister M S Gill and he
has assured me that job will be done. I hope India will
prepare in a fantastic way for the World Cup," Negre said.
"We are working together with Hockey India and Sports
Ministry and we have good understanding with both the
parties," he added.
Negre also ruled out the possibility of meeting Bengal
Hockey Association President J B Roy-led warring faction
during his present visit.
"This is my fourth visit to India this year. I met them
couple of times and heard about their grievances. But I'm not
meeting them this time," he said.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, November 20, 2009, 18:57