FIH asks HI to hold elections in February

The HI has promised to conduct the elections in the first week of February after a series of meetings with International Hockey Federation Vice-President Antonio von Ondarza, who is also the FIH-appointed observer for the polls.

“We have decided to hold the elections in the first week of February. The FIH has agreed to this. We will sort out all the issues and have a re-look at the affiliation disputes,” HI president AK Mattoo told PTI.

“The FIH had received some letters regarding affiliations. We will go through the entire process and resolve all the issues,” he said.

Even as Hockey India put up a bold face of resolving all the issues related to the much-delayed elections, it seemed headed for a fresh internal crisis with secretary general Mohammad Aslam resigning from the post, accusing key officials of delaying the election process.

Mattoo said he had not yet received Aslam’s resignation letter, but would accept it once it lands in his hand.

“It is unfortunate that he has resigned at such a time. Some of the comments he has made are unfair and I am quite upset and hurt by all these,” Mattoo said.

A disgusted Aslam said he had first offered his resignation in July this year because of the delay in HI election process. HI elections were scheduled for November 18 in Srinagar. But the Sports Ministry had asked the body to clear its mess before going for the polls after major hockey playing states in Punjab, Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand were not granted recognition.

The new election date will come barely two weeks before the World Cup, scheduled for February 28 to March 13. As per the FIH directive, incase HI fails to complete the election on timeIndia would be barred from taking part in the event.