It has been four years since the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Hockey India (HI) became locked in an impasse. Many attempts were made to settle the issue amicably, but no settlement was ever reached. Over the last four years the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) all stepped in to try to resolve the rift, but neither of the warring factions looked ready to relent.
Last year the FIH took the Champions Trophy away from India because of the row, yet those at the helm still did not learn from the loss. They put their personal interests ahead of the game and stood firm on their positions. Now, with the aim of ending the dispute, the IOA has taken matters into its own hands following a directive from the FIH.
A three-member panel
The IOA has constituted a three-member body that will decide who runs hockey in the country. The panel includes former Wrestling Federation of India president GS Mander, Indian Weightlifting Federation president Birendra Prasad Baishya and Handball Federation of India secretary-general SM Bali. They have told HI and the IHF to present their cases on 21 August, and the committee will submit its decision on 31 August.
This is something all hockey fans in the country have been eagerly waiting for. It all started in 2008, after India failed to qualify for the Beijing Olympics. The Indian Hockey Federation, which was at the helm, was disbanded as a result, and Hockey India was subsequently formed. Since then the two bodies have been at constant loggerheads, frequently taking jibes at each other.
They became entangled in an ego clash and, in their quest for supremacy, neglected the game while pursuing their personal interests. The rift meant that World Series Hockey, a fine concept with the capacity to restore the game to its old glory, received a lukewarm response, as Hockey India prevented its players from taking part. The infighting between the two bodies and the egos of a few vested interests spelt doom for a tournament that could otherwise have been a precursor to putting the game back on track.
One body for the game
With only one body functioning, all hockey players will come under one umbrella, which will do the sport a world of good. Players who fell out with the board because of their association with the IHF will come back into the selection fold.
The rift, with its constant controversies, has killed the interest of the country’s hockey lovers, and that can now be expected to end. Controversies are among the biggest demons a sport can face, and staying in the news for the wrong reasons breeds resentment among the public. The FIH took the Champions Trophy out of the country last year and also threatened to take away the Olympic qualifiers. At least this kind of situation can be avoided if the issue is settled.
A sport needs money to thrive. At present the corporate powerhouses are divided between the two bodies, but if only one body remains in power, all sponsors can direct their money to a single association, helping to strengthen the game.
The row has never done hockey any good, and the decision to end this long-standing rift could be the first step towards restoring the game’s lost glory.
By Samikshan Dutta Choudhury
Indian Sports News
