Conditions behind the HI-IHF merger

Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) have finally reached an interim arrangement for formation of a joint outfit

Conditions behind the HI-IHF merger

Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) have finally reached an interim arrangement for formation of a joint outfit. At a meeting with the sports ministry officials yesterday, both federations ironed out their differences.

The two federations will, however, continue to work independently at the domestic level. A joint executive board and working committee of 39 members will be formed that will have equal representation from both federations. HI will have 20 members.

"The decisions will be taken by the Working Committee which will have eight members -- four each from HI and IHF.

There will be a chairman and co-chairman of the working committee, one each from HI and IHF. The chairman and the co-chairman will have equal powers," HI's General Secretary Narendra Batra said.

The new outfit will look into selection of the national team, its preparation, sending the teams to various international tournaments and holding national camps.

The arrangement has been made till 2012 end after which it will be re-looked.

Since HI is recognised by the International Hockey Federation (FIH), the parent body of world hockey, it will be responsible for any communication to the world body after the joint working committee takes a decision.

Boost for WSH
The interim arrangement will also help the million-dollar World Series Hockey (WSH) to flourish. Five players -- Arjun Halappa, Adrian D'Souza, Sardara Singh, Sandeep Singh, Prabhjot Singh -- who had been banned for attending the WSH launch in Mumbai can now seeu00a0 the light at the end of the tunnel. Since WSH is an IHF-organised tournament, HI is also contemplating their own league shortly.