JOIN USIndian Hockey Federation will not take part in the upcoming elections of the Indian Olympic Association as the national apex body gave all the three eligible votes to rival Hockey India on Tuesday.
All of hockey’s quota for the IOA polls has gone to HI with president Marriamma Koshy, Secretary General Narinder Batra and Executive Committee member Sudharshan Pathak being nominated.
Interestingly, under orders from the Delhi High Court, three members from the IHF will be allowed to take part in the IOA Annual General Body Meeting on November 25 which will precede the elections.
The IHF will be represented in the AGM by its president Dinesh Reddy, Jatinder Peter and interestingly R K Shetty, who a few days back resigned from the post of president.
The Delhi High Court had recently ordered a status quo of IOA’s decision to recognise HI as the sole body to run the game in the country.
Strong electoral
Meanwhile, the 183-strong electoral college of the IOA polls issued today under directions from the returning officer, Justice (retired) V K Bali includes interesting names of officials, including Lalit Bhanot who is likely to contest for the Secretary General’s post.
Bhanot’s name has been included among two voters from the Delhi Olympic Association. It will be interesting to see whether Bhanot contests the elections as the IOC Ethics Commission had directed the IOA not to allow him, along with Suresh Kalmadi and V K Verma, to stand for the IOA polls.
Archery Association of India, which itself is holding its elections on November 9, will be represented by its long-time chief and IOA acting president V K Malhotra, Tarlochan Singh and secretary Paresh Nath Mukherjee.
Abhay Singh Chautala, who is expected to contest for the post of president against IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh, is one of the three members from the Indian Boxing Federation though his nomination to the chairman’s post of the Indian Amateur Boxing Federation is under the government’s scanner.His son-in-law, Rajasthan MLA and IABF president Abhishek Matoria and secretary Bhupinder Singh are the other two voters from IABF.
The Athletics Federation of India though has not nominated its president Adille Sumariwala. Former president J L Jadam, vice-president Sushil Salwan and secretary C K Valson have been nominated.
Virender Nanavati, who is also reportedly running for the Secretary General’s post has been included from Swimming Federation of India.