Thaindian News

New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has rejected the agreement reached between the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Hockey India (HI).

IOA acting president Vijay Kumar Malhotra Tuesday said the arrangement worked out at the behest of the sports ministry is an “exercise in confusion and futility”.

He said the IOA will never accept two federations for one discipline in the country and attacked the sports ministry for working out such a solution.

“We don’t want to open a Pandora’s box which will lead to a total chaos in Indian sports,” Malhotra said.

“IOA will recognise one federation for one game and unless a unified body is formed to run hockey, it will not be acceptable.”

According to the arrangement, the IHF and HI will form a joint executive board and working committee. The two federations will, however, continue to work independently at the domestic level.

The eight-member working committee will have three members each from the IHF and HI and the two presidents as co-chairman.

Malhotra said the IOA will never accept two co-chairpersons for one federation. “This is not feasible and workable.”

“How can two separate entities run one sport in the country?” he said.

“The agreement is a blatant act enforced by the sports minister (Ajay Maken) who wants to earn some brownie points.”

“This so-called skewed agreement also further strengthens IOA’s stand that the government should stay clear from interfering in the affairs of sports bodies.”

The IOA suspended the IHF in 2008, but the Delhi High Court quashed the suepension last year, leading to the revival of the federation.