IHF rejects IOA's three-member panel

New Delhi, Aug 30 - The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) Thursday rejected the three-member committee formed by the India Olympic Association (IOA) to sit in judgement over the running of India’s hockey affairs.

On the eve of the meeting with the three-member committee, IHF said the members are biased as they were part of the IOA that had superseded the IHF in 2008.

IHF president R.K. Shetty and advisor K.P.S. Gill also sent out a stern warning to the FIH saying the international body should stop meddling in the affairs of Indian hockey.

Gill, a former IHF president, said the committee headed by G.S. Mander, former Wrestling Federation of India president, cannot be expected to take a fair decision. Indian Weightlifting Federation chief Birendra Prasad Baishya and Handball Federation of India secretary-general S.M. Bali are the other two members of the committee.

“IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh promised that the committee would be for reconciliation between IHF and Hockey India. But they went back on their word. We have objection to the committee because the three members are part of the IOA that had de-recognition from the IHF. It should be a committee free from any influence, be it from the IOA, IHF or HI,” said Gill.

The IHF also warned the world body FIH to stay away from the affairs of Indian hockey and said it should be left to the two warring bodies to find out a merger formula.

“We are ready to sit down with HI and sort out the issues. We don’t need the FIH. This is a domestic problem and we can handle it,” he said.

Gill said the IOA de-recognise IHF because it had its own agenda.

“Then IOA president Suresh Kalmadi wanted to become the president of IHF. He should have told me. He should have behaved like a gentleman,” he added.

IHF president Shetty also lambasted the FIH for having double standards on the Indian players, who participated in the World Series Hockey (WSH).

“The FIH threatened to ban players who plays in the WSH. But what happened to the Pakistan players, who participated both in the WSH and the London Games. FIH wants to have some control in India. After the success of the 2010 World Cup, it has realised the India is the country,” he said.

IHF also blasted HI for the eight-time Olympic champions worst ever finish, last place, at the Games in London.

Former India captains M.P. Ganesh, Joaquim Carvalho, Dhanraj Pillay and Rajpal Singh also joined the chorus and demanded the resignation of HI secretary general Narinder Batra and chief coach Michael Nobbs.

Dhanraj said that after the team’s failure to qualify for the Beijing Games then coach Carvalho resigned immediately.

“Batra should have resigned in London. If Nobbs has some shame he should step down immediately,” said Dhanraj.