The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has constituted a three-member committee to resolve the long-running issue of who should hold the reins of hockey in the country. Both Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) have submitted their written arguments to assert their legitimacy.
The committee, that was formed over a month ago, has former Wrestling Federation of India president GS Mander as its chairman alongwith Indian Weightlifting Federation president Birendra Prasad Baishya and Handball Federation of India Secretary General, SM Bali. The committee was formed under the directives of the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
Mader said the committee will be meeting the two parties separately before a personal hearing on August 21. They have to submit their report to FIH and IOA by August 31. “We had asked them to submit their arguments supported by facts and document. We have received their versions and have mailed a copy to FIH as well as IOA. The two parties will be called separately on August 21 for the hearing,” Mander said. “Also, we have mailed the reply of each party to the other one to receive a counter-argument. We have received HI’s version but are yet to hear from FIH. We expect it to submit by today or tomorrow.”
The two warring factions – HI and IHF -- have been involved in the bitter tug of war over the running of the sport in the country. HI took over after IHF was disbanded in 2008. However, Delhi high court invalidated the dissolution of the IHF by IOA.
