International Hockey Federation asks IOA to recognise Hockey India as national association

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has now formally written to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), requesting it to remove all reference of the now defunct Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) from its records and website, and recognise Hockey India (HI).

FIH had approved HI during its Congress in November 2014 as the national hockey governing body. This decision was later appealed by the IHF in the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), according to a release.

But the world’s highest court for sports declined their plea and confirmed its decision to reinstate HI as the governing body for hockey in India.

IOA suspended IHF after a secret film by television reporters showed hockey federation secretary general K. Jothikumaran accepting money in 2008. In the same year, India had failed to qualify for the first time.

The Narinder Batra-led HI replaced the K.P.S. Gill-guided IHF, established in 1928, in 2009.

HI has organised prestigious international events such as the FIH Champions Trophy, Olympic Qualification and FIH Hockey World League (HWL) apart from the Hockey India League (HIL).

Under it, the men’s hockey team, eight-time Olympic champions, qualified for the 2012 and 2016 editions of the quadrennial event. This year, the women’s team also qualified for the Rio Olympic Games.

IANS