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It has been four years since Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Hockey India (HI) has been locked in an impasse. Many attempts were made to settle the issue amicably but never could they come to a settlement. The issue over the last four years saw International Hockey Federation (FIH), Sports Ministry, Indian Olympic Association (IOA) jump into action, trying to resolve the rift but none of these warring factions looked to relent.

Last year, FIH took away the Champions Trophy from India, pertaining to the row, but still the people at helm did not learn from the loss. They put their personal interests ahead of the game and stood adamant to their stand. Now with an aim to end the dispute, IOA has taken the affairs in their own hands following a directive by FIH.

IOA has constituted a three member body which will now decide as to who would run hockey in the country. The panel includes the former Wrestling Federation of India president G.S. Mander, the Indian Weightlifting Federation president Birendra Prasad Baishya and the Handball Federation of India secretary-general S.M. Bali. They have told the HI and the IHF to present their cases on August 21 and a committee will submit its decision on August 31.

This is one thing that the all the hockey fans in the country were waiting eagerly for. It all started back in 2008 after India failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. The Indian Hockey Federation, which was the helm of things, was disbanded due to that and subsequently Hockey India was formed. Since then both these bodies are at constant loggerheads with either bodies taking jibe at each other frequently.

They got entangled into an ego clash and in order to attain supremacy neglected the game and it kept of vouching for their personal interests. This rift saw such a wonderful concept World Series Hockey, which had the capacity to lift the game to its old glory, get a lukewarm response as the Hockey India prevented its players from playing in it. The infighting amongst the two existing hockey bodies and self-egos of a few vested interests rested with the power of taking hockey to its old glory casted a doom for tournament, which otherwise could have acted as a precursor to restoring the game back on track again.

With only one body in functioning, it will now see all the hockey players under one aegis which will do world of wonders to the sport. The players, who fell apart with the board due to their compliance to the IHF, will now come back into the selection fold.

The rift has killed the interest of the hockey lovers of the country with constant controversies and now that can be expected to put to rest. Controversies are the biggest demons that a sport can fight and continuously staying in news due to wrong reason creates a sense of hatred within the people. FIH had taken out the Champions Trophy out of the country last year and also threatened to pull out the Olympic qualifiers. At least this kind of situation can be avoided if the issue is settled.

A sport to thrive in the country requires money. But the current scenario has seen the corporate powerhouses divided over both the bodies and if only one body stays at power then all corporates can divert all their money to single association helping in strengthening of the game.

The row has never done any good for the hockey and now the decision to end this long standing rift might be the first step towards uplifting the game to its forlorn glory.

By Samikshan Dutta Choudhury
Indian Sports News Network