Hockey world cup in India below menace: International federation to dispatch delegation for talks with authorities, CoA

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has expressed issues over Hockey India’s ‘ability’ to host the World Cup in January subsequent 12 months, after the court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) failed to answer its letter despatched final week. The world physique has demanded the CoA current an in depth timeline for drafting Hockey India’s structure and conducting elections to make sure India continues to stay the host of the World Cup.

Due to the dearth of response from the CoA, the FIH and the Asian Hockey Federation are planning to dispatch a delegation to India to carry talks with the federal government in addition to the CoA.

The World Cup, FIH’s flagship occasion, is scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from January 13 to 29, 2023.

On Wednesday, FIH’s chief govt Thierry Weil wrote to the three members of the CoA – former chief election commissioner SY Quraishi, retired Supreme Court decide Anil Dave and former India worldwide Zafar Iqbal – saying that any additional delay in drafting Hockey India’s structure and conducting elections would solely add to their issues concerning the World Cup.

In his letter, Weil wrote: “In all honesty, the fact that you have not reacted at all to our letter from last week is giving us concerns as to Hockey India’s ability to host the upcoming FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup, which is of paramount importance for us. To that extent, should Hockey India Constitution-drafting and elections be delayed any further, this will seriously increase our concerns.”

The Delhi High Court positioned Hockey India below a CoA for violation of the Sports Code in May. The courtroom was listening to a petition filed by former India captain Aslam Sher Khan, who challenged the appointment of former FIH and Indian Olympic Association president Narinder Batra as Hockey India’s ‘life president’. The courtroom struck down the place, which led to Batra resigning as the pinnacle of each sporting our bodies.

The FIH despatched its stern letter to the CoA on the day it appointed its interim president, Egypt’s Seif Ahmed.

The world physique stated they’re keen to ‘provide any assistance required to amend the Constitution in line with the rules laid-down by the Government of India’. However, it added that the elections should be held ‘expeditiously’.

“We would like to reiterate that elections should take place expeditiously to allow the newly (sic) Executive Board of Hockey India to have adequate time to properly organise the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup, which is scheduled from 13th to 29th January 2023 in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela,” Weil wrote within the letter.

Hockey isn’t the one sport that has been put below stress by its world physique due to the appointment of the CoA and the drafting of the structure. The All India Football Federation, too, is dealing with a FIFA ban after the Supreme Court appointed a CoA to draft its structure and run the day-to-day affairs. Quraishi and Dave are part of the AIFF CoA as nicely.