29 July,2010 07:38 AM IST | | Agencies
International Hockey Federation (FIH) vice president Antonio Von Ondarza yesterday hinted that the Indian women's hockey team may not be allowed to participate in the women's hockey World Cup due to start in Argentina on August 30 if Hockey India does not hold its election by July 31, the deadline set by the world body.
There was an air of uncertainty when HI members walked in for the general body meeting and as the chair was about to call the election it was served the Bombay High Court's order staying the election for three weeks on a petition by the Mumbai Hockey Association.
By evening, the Delhi High Court, which had asked the government on Tuesday to issue a clarification that HI is a private body as the KPS-Gill led Indian Hockey federation is the only recognised federation to run the sport in the country, stayed the elections following the sports ministry's failure to do so. Ondarza, who is also the FIH's observer for the election, said: "I don't know where we are heading. There seems no end to it. July 31 is the deadline for HI to hold elections and after that HI will not be part of FIH statutes."
Asked whether India will be barred from participating in the women's World Cup, Ondarza said: "We are here for the good of athletes. We do not want to impose sanctions, but we have to do something. I ask the Indian govt, the courts, lawyers and all stakeholders to set the ball rolling. We do not want to take any drastic steps."
