Hockey India will hold polls in June or July: Batra

Delhi High Court`s verdict to set aside government and IOA`s order to derecognise IHF is not a revival of the KPS Gill-led body and Hockey India will held its election in June or early July, HI secretary general said.

New Delhi: Delhi High Court`s verdict to set aside government and IOA`s order to derecognise IHF is not a

revival of the KPS Gill-led body and Hockey India will held its election in June or early July, HI secretary general Narendra Batra said on Sunday. The Delhi High Court on Friday quashed the Centre`s 2008 order of de-recognising Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) after its secretary K Jothikumaran was caught on camera in a sting operation accepting bribe to select a player. Batra said Hockey India was unperturbed by the judgement and it doesn`t affect them in anyway. "The recent hon`ble High Court judgement in favour of Indian Hockey Federation does not in any way affect Hockey India and its functioning," Batra said in a HI release. "In the judgement in Para 76 at page 42, it is stated as follows. Instead of again panicking about the revival of IHF, it requires to be seen how interest of Hockey in India can be best served ... which means this order is not revival of IHF.” "Hockey India now has 30 state/UT as its members and 4 institutional/Boards as members. These members consist of both men and women units in their respective states. These 34 members are verified and approved by state Olympic Bodies, IOA, GOI MYAS observers, election observer and FIH observer. "All this is being done to have free, fair and transparent elections of Hockey India in June or early July 2010. And to see and ensure that interest if Hockey in India is best served," he added. Batra also questioned why Government took eight years to de-recognise IHF. "As per GOI MYAS Guidelines Annexure III ... (it) is clear, that to be Affiliated with GOI MYAS, the Unit has to have Affiliation of its International Body.” "Now that IHF is no longer recognised by its International Body since 2000, then why did GOI MYAS wait from 2000 to 2008 to disaffiliate them can be best clarified by them," Batra said. IHF was disaffiliated by FIH in 2000 and on November 4 Indian Hockey Confederation was formed comprising both men and women factions, according to IOC charter. FIH approved the affiliation of IHC in its congress in 2001. However, in 2008 FIH disaffiliated IHC as from 2000 till date it did not held a single AGM or election. Soon Hockey India took over from IHC in 2009. "As on today it is only Hockey India which has affiliation of IOA, AHF and FIH and that is what is required under IOC charter and FIH charter," Batra said. "IHF officials seem to be stuck in their illusionary world as it existed in 2000. IHF is only men`s body and FIH or IOC or AHF do not acknowledge only Men`s body anymore. It is high time IHF officials woke up to reality." PTI