JOIN USIn a major decision, the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) Executive Board in Lausanne on Saturday gave a green signal to India to conduct the Olympic Qualifiers and other major hockey tournaments.
“I am happy that FIH has now come out with a correct decision recognising India as a hockey hub and accepted IOA’s stand,” IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra said in a statement. “I wish FIH had not taken an intransigent stand on Champions Trophy. Shifting of the tournament is no doubt effected our national team’s preparation for the London Olympic but it also did not do any good to the game. “IOA is fully committed to Olympic charter, we will never accept two federations for any sports, that is our unequivocal stand, which FIH has also accepted,” he added.
India had already paid the price for the long-standing power tussle between HI and the Indian Hockey Federation over the governance of the game, with the FIH snatching away the hosting rights of this year’s Champions Trophy.
The FIH had also threatened to take away the Olympic Qualifier from India and summoned HI to present its case and discuss issues related to the game’s governance in the country before the world body’s executive council on Saturday.
Malhotra hoped that for the betterment of hockey, the two warring factions -- HI and IHF -- will now close the ranks.