Former Indian goalkeeper Mir Ranjan Negi, who shot to fame after the release of 'Chak De! India', today said that it was time IHF President KPS Gill stepped down and BCCI president Sharad Pawar take on the job of resurrecting Indian hockey.
"I think what the cricket board president Sharad Pawar did to cricket; he can do the same thing to hockey and restore its past glory. He should be made the president of the Indian Hockey Federation if the game has to survive in the country," Negi said.
Negi added that Gill was in no position to take Indian hockey ahead and IT was in desperate need of a complete overhaul.
"That man can barely walk and has difficulty in vision. It's time we end this. The loss (not qualifying for the Beijing Olympics) has hurt me and Indian hockey a lot," he added.
Negi said FIH was considering shifting the 2010 World Cup to a different location just because the team did not qualify.
"As it is, people are shifting to other sports, with this I hope it doesn't bring the end for the national game," said Negi on the sidelines of Bombay Hockey Association's protest of the state government's withdrawal of the lease to the ground.
{{/usCountry}}"As it is, people are shifting to other sports, with this I hope it doesn't bring the end for the national game," said Negi on the sidelines of Bombay Hockey Association's protest of the state government's withdrawal of the lease to the ground.
{{/usCountry}}He said BHA has given the country so many Olympians and instead of the government supporting the game, they are snatching away the land for its future players.
BHA secretary Kehar Singh said that the case in the civil court had gone in favour of the state and the BHA will move to the Bombay High Court to get the ground back.