After getting a breather from the Delhi High Court, Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president, KPS Gill, is aiming to set things right in Indian hockey. In a freewheeling interview, Gill talks about the court decision and his future plans.
Excerpts:
What does the court ruling mean for IHF and its President?
It means a lot for IHF. The plight of the players and the sport is no secret and for that the administration has to be set right. The court’s decision is against the decision to disband the IHF, which was illegal. As for personal achievement, I have no enmity with anyone and I do not view this (the verdict) as a personal feat.
In a press conference last month, you vowed to take the fight for IHF forward. You have always been an open critic of the rival camp, Hockey India. Do you feel vindicated?
It’s not a question of vindication. In fact, it is not even about the IHF being derecognised. The treatment meted out to us was
shameless.
Certain people harbouring ambitions to be at the helm of the national sport were the instigators and used pawns to get us ousted. The procedure was incorrect. I always believed in the fight against this injustice in a democratic set-up like ours.
What is your opinion on hockey as it stands today?
There is nothing called hockey today. Under IHF’s administration, the players bagged eight world gold medals. Can we show any result in recent past that can come even remotely close to those achievements? Hockey is our national sport but it has been a victim of needless personal propagandas.
What is your plan of action?
I have been involved in a number of activities since IHF was de-recognised. I plan to carry on with them. I don’t want to share these because I do not want needless publicity. However, I will surely target the people who targeted IHF and attempted, successfully to an extent, to bring us down on false pretext… and yes you can quote me on this.
What is your opinion on hockey as it stands today?
There is nothing called hockey today. Under IHF’s administration, the players bagged eight world gold medals. Can we show any result in recent past that can come even remotely close to those achievements? Hockey is our national sport but it has been a victim of needless personal propagandas.
What is your plan of action?
I have been involved in a number of activities since IHF was de-recognised. I plan to carry on with them. I don’t want to share these because I do not want needless publicity. However, I will surely target the people who targeted IHF and attempted, successfully to an extent, to bring us down on false pretext… and yes you can quote me on this.
So no truce with Hockey India?
Hockey India has extended its hand of friendship a number of times in the past, only to backstab. I do not trust the body and do not trust most of its officials. Yet if something resembling a truce is arrived at, I will consider it keeping the good of the game in mind.