Maken steps in to put end to hockey standoff

With things getting from bad to worse between Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation in the country,the sports ministry has decided to step in.

With things getting from bad to worse between Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation in the country,the sports ministry has decided to step in. And even though they are only talking about bringing the two warring factions on a common platform for now,there are enough indications that the ministry is now contemplating putting an end to the issue.

At a press briefing,Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Ajay Maken said that he had called the presidents and representatives of both the IHF and HI for a meeting on Saturday,where merging the two associations would be the main agenda.

I had taken along HI officials to KPS Gill’s house to thrash out the issue but unfortunately nothing came of it. I have now called a meeting with the presidents of both Hockey India and IHF at my office on Saturday with a proposal to which I hope they would agree, Maken said.

Tough posturing

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While the two factions have met numerous times in the past one year with no result,Maken insisted that the ministry was not keen on dragging the issue any longer. “We are going to issue a notice to both HI and IHFalong with it we are also sending them the proposal to have one federation in national interest. We are very much hopeful that they would agree to our proposal. If not then we will take a firm step and interfere and inform the court (about the ministrys decision) he said,adding that,as per the proposal,there would be equal representations from both the HI and the IHF and the new federation will decide on coach and other things.

Both factions have ostensibly welcomed the move. Anything that can sort this issue for once and all is welcome. We will definitely be there at the meeting and go with a positive frame of mind. I am more than willing to work out a compromise if it is for the benefit of Indian hockey, said HI secretary general Narinder Batra. Asked if he was ok with the proposed format of having equal representation from both factions,Batra said nothing should be ruled out. IHF president RK Shetty also welcomed the meeting. We have said we are willing to go more than half way to find a solution. There has to be a final call on this at some point and I am happy that the ministry is playing a proactive role in this, he said.

Real desperation

However,behind the hearty welcome from all parties is a real desperation to settle the issue that has seen the sport suffering from neglect despite two administrations for their own reasons. While the IHF is keen to go ahead with its proposed World Series Hockey a move that may see the Indian players still sign on the dotted line but will be shorn of foreign attraction unless its recognised by the FIH HI is keen to project an all is well image with the corporate sector as the July deadline approaches when the eight-year team sponsorship deal with Sahara gets over. Also,with both factions not recognised by the government as on date,there is increasing pressure to toe the ministry’s line to survive. For its part,the sports ministry has had to battle both sides with little authority despite being the sole financier of all the national camps and tours.

Running around courthouses 20 days a month on various cases makes no sense when the ultimate desire is only to benefit the game. Its time we got over this battle and concentrate on running the sport, said Batra,quite a climbdown for a person who has always taken pride in his ability to make a legal issue out of every conflict.