The FIH had on Wednesday written to the CoA expressing its growing concern about the matter, keeping in focus the Men’s World Cup scheduled to be hosted by India in the state of Odisha (Bhubaneswar and Rourkela) in January next year.
“We (CoA) are on the job, no doubt about it. Hopefully, we will complete the process (of amending the Constitution and holding HI elections) much before the World Cup,” said Zafar Iqbal, talking to TimesofIndia.com about CoA’s views on the latest development.
“Maybe in two months’ time there is a possibility of holding (HI) elections.”
HI was put under a three-member CoA led by former Supreme Court judge AR Dave by the Delhi High Court in May this year after finding the federation’s Constitution and some of the appointments to be in violation of the National Sports Code.
The court acted on a petition filed by former India player Aslam Sher Khan, who had challenged the then Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra’s appointment as life member of HI and Elena Norman as CEO.
Batra has since resigned from the posts of IOA president, International Olympic Committee member and FIH president.
Zafar Iqbal (TOI Photo)
After its first letter to the CoA went unanswered, the FIH CEO, Thierry Weil, on Wednesday wrote another letter, saying that the FIH and the Asian Hockey Federation “would be happy to cooperate with the CoA” in order to “amend the Constitution (of HI) in line with the rules laid-down by the Government of India” so that the HI elections “can be held in accordance with the new Constitution”.
“In order to ensure that the 2023 FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup can still be played in India as planned, we kindly ask you to provide us with a detailed timeline for the preparation and adoption of the Constitution as well as the holding of the elections to the Executive Board of Hockey India,” the FIH further said in the letter, which was accessed by TimesofIndia.com.
Reacting to the strongly-worded communication from the FIH, Zafar said, “Timeline is okay; they too want to sort this out. But from our side, there is nothing wrong, in the sense that we are not hindering the process.
“The process is on. Everybody’s working hard to get things completed — the (World Cup) venues, the accommodation in Rourkela. The entire Odisha govt is looking after that only,” the 66 year old Iqbal, who was part of the 1980 gold medal winning Indian team at the Moscow Olympics, further told TimesofIndia.com.
Iqbal also pointed out that the dissolved state hockey associations will first have to be restored by bringing them in line with the guidelines. The Hockey India electoral process will commence after that.
“Not even two months have passed since the formation of the CoA. We are doing simultaneous jobs. The High Court has given a number of jobs that have to be completed, like (amending) the Constitution, elections, this and that, day to day work is going on.”
Zafar Iqbal
“Elections can’t happen like that (in a rushed manner). All state units have to be formed. They are already in place, but wherever there is a problem, that has to be resolved — like, for example, there is a problem in Punjab. The earlier body was dissolved due to various reasons. Three or four such associations are there that will hold their elections and form their bodies before the elections of Hockey India.”
Responding to the question on whether there is a possibility that the upcoming Men’s World Cup could be moved from India to elsewhere by the FIH, Zafar said the CoA will do everything to ensure that doesn’t happen.
“I don’t think so (that the World Cup will be shifted), unless they (FIH) desire so. From our side, we want it to be held here only. Millions of rupees are being spent in development. We are on track, nothing wrong, not to worry, only thing is we have to inform them (FIH) quickly (about the timelines),” he concluded.
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