Player power from new hockey body

To smoothen the affiliation process and promote induction of former players in administration, Hockey India has floated the idea of setting up athletes' commissions at the national and state levels, reports Sharad Deep.

To smoothen the affiliation process and promote induction of former players in administration, Hockey India has floated the idea of setting up athletes' commissions at the national and state levels.

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Hockey India Secretary Mohammed Aslam said the commissions would ensure formation of unified bodies in the states and their recommendation would be final when it comes to granting affiliation.

At the state level, the commissions will ensure that the services of former players are utilised in team selection.

“All the players and officials have to get themselves registered with the athletes' commissions and players with national and international experience would be included in the selection committees,” Aslam told Hindustan Times.

“Like we have done at HI, the president and secretary won’t have any say in selection process, and even the technical committee people will be those with a hockey background,” Aslam said.

On the merger of the men's and women's bodies at the state level, Aslam said it was not Hockey India's headache.

“How can we ensure merger of the existing bodies in the states? But we will give affiliation only to new unified bodies.”

“Hockey India is a separate entity though it has involvement of people from IHF and the IWHF, it will have own bodies in the states. We will recognise only those bodies that are approved by the athletics commissions.”