FIH warns Hockey India to hold elections to evade endangering Mens World Cup chances

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has warned Hockey India that without immediate elections, the country’s chance to participate in the Men’s World Cup in January 2023 will come into jeopardy.

An official communication will be sent to the Committee of Administrators (CoA) which governs Hockey India regarding FIH’s decision. The Executive Board of the FIH took the decision during its meeting in Terrassa, Spain amidst the ongoing FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup in Spain and Netherlands on Saturday.

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“Regarding the current situation with Hockey India, FIH will send an official communication to the Committee of Administrators of Hockey India with a request to have elections for India’s hockey governing body held as soon as possible, in order not to jeopardize the upcoming FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup scheduled in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela in January 2023,” an official press release by the FIH read.

The Delhi High Court had ordered Hockey India to govern itself by a Committee of Administrators following a complaint came into light regarding an alleged violation of the National Sports Code in May, 2022.

The petition was filed by former India international Aslam Sher Khan, who challenged the appointment of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra as a life member of the governing body, despite being the President of FIH.

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The Delhi High Court, In its verdict, said that the appointment was illegal and removed him from the designation. The High Court also dubbed the administrative setup of the federation as erroneous.

As it stands, the FIH will review the situation once again in its next Executive Board meeting on November 3, before the FIH Congress on November 4-5, 2022.