Hockey India seeks details from Punjab

The Hockey India (HI) has sought detailed minutes of Hockey Punjab AGM, where Sukhbir Singh Badal was elected president, before it decides on the Northern state's affiliation application.

As far as Delhi is concerned, HI has asked the state Olympic association to decide on the body it recognises out of the three that have staked claim to affiliation.

The five-member Hockey India sub-committee, dealing with the affiliation issue, also decided to create an opening for the inclusion of some bodies as "members without voting rights".

Such an option will help former Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) units like Mumbai, Vidarbha and Bhopal, which have been denied affiliation on the basis of one-state-one-association rule.

The sub-committee convened by the Hockey India president, AK Mattoo and comprising its vice-president Vidya Stokes, members Mohd Mushtaq Ahmed, Rajeev Mehta, Narinder Batra and special invitee Amrit Bose, met in New Delhi on Tuesday.

As per the committee's decision, Mattoo despatched a letter to Hockey Punjab, asking it to furnish minutes of the meeting at which elections were held.

“You are required to submit the minutes of meeting of election in which Hockey Punjab was formed along with the list of persons who attended the meeting for us to consider your request for affiliation,” the letter said.

Regarding Delhi's affiliation, Mattoo said that as three groups have staked claim, HI is waiting for inputs from the state Olympic association.

Mattoo said that he has told the sports ministry of the latest decision by the sub-committee.

Mattoo also added that they have started the process for identifying members without voting rights.

This opportunity will be like the associate membership of the now defunct IHF, which was given to institutions/companies and boards that support hockey.