VHA included in ‘New Hockey Federation’

Can take part in national tournaments

By Paritosh Pramanik

VIDARBHA Hockey Association (VHA) has come out victors as far as participation in national tournaments is concerned. The three-year long fight with Hockey India (HI) for its survival at the top level is over with the Joint Executive Committee for Hockey in India and Sports Ministry accepting the demand to keep the affiliation of the six-decades-old body.
In a major development, Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) have decided to work together without forming a unified body.
Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ over phone from Delhi, IHF secretary Ashok Mathur said, “VHA, which is affiliated with IHF, along with Mumbai, Maharashtra, Bhopal and Hyderabad, will remain part of the “Joint Executive Committee for Hockey in India.”
Mathur said VHA would be able to take part in national and other invitational tournaments organised under the banner of HI or IHF.
“Be it Vidarbha, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Patiala, Bhopal or any other association...they all would be allowed to take part in the nationals (senior, junior, boys or girls),” informed Mathur.
Mathur said IHF was clear in their stand of having VHA, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Bhopal, Hyderabad as their affiliated members.
The issue of affiliation to these five units was discussed during the meeting ten days back and Sports Ministry secretary Injeti Srinivas had accepted the demand of IHF.
‘The Hitavada’ was the first to report about VHA getting affiliation with the joint body.
After IHF was disbanded and Hockey India took over the reigns of the game in 2008 VHA as well as the other associations’ existence was in danger as HI adhered to one-state-one-unit policy.
Last month Sports Ministry had proposed a merger plan to the two warring bodies. The Ministry had asked for their views on it and had also warned them of stern action if they failed to budge.
IHF was stern in its stand of including Vidarbha, Mumbai, which is 100 years old association, Maharashtra, Bhopal and Hyderabad, as affiliated units in the national federation.
During a meeting held on June 21, IHF had supported VHA to be part of the Indian Federation and were firm on their stand whenever the two warring factions met with the government.
“We have clearly stated that associations like Vidarbha, Mumbai, Bhopal, Hyderabad and Maharashtra are more than 50-60 years old. We can’t suddenly wipe them out. They would be part of the merged body,” Mathur said.
An elated VHA secretary Vinod Gawai said he was happy that their fight for survival and recognition bore fruits. “All we wanted is participation in national tournaments. We always fought for our players. We were firm in our fight and that is the reason IHF supported us,” said Gawai.
“The players would not lose out on playing in nationals, at least till 2012,” he added.
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VHA elections likely in September

SLUG: Last AGM under present body on Sunday
By Paritosh Pramanik

THE most awaited elections of Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA), in all probability, would be held in the month of September.
The Annual General Body Meeting (AGM), which was not held last year, would be held on Sunday, July 31 at Sarvoday Ashram, Amravati Road.
This would be the second time VHA goes to elections after its Constitution was amended in 2007 and executive body’s term was extended to four years.
This year elections would be conducted in the presence of Election Officer appointed by Deputy Charity Commissioner.
According to secretary’s report, some members have filed an application before the Deputy Charity Commissioner seeking direction for election as per voters’ list of 2005 elections. But the present executive body objected to and defended their members who were added between 2005-2011.
At present VHA has 504 members including 100 Patrons, 341 Life Members, two Honorary Members (without voting rights) and 61 Affiliated Units.
“Deputy Charity Commissioner, vide order dated 28.6.2011, directed the association to hold elections within three months as per the voters list submitted up to date of elections. Deputy Charity Commissioner has also appointed Election Officer for the same. Accordingly, VHA’s forthcoming election programme would be declared by Election Officer separately,” the secretary’s report states.