By Paritosh Pramanik
THE very existence of Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA), hockey governing body of Vidarbha, seems in danger, yet again. The Hockey India (HI) has once again reiterated its stand on ‘One State One Association’ citing Indian Olympic Association’s order for the National Sports Federations.
In 2009, when the Indian Olympic Association had formed Hockey India after dissolving Indian Hockey Federation, the issue of One State One Unit had come up.
The then VHA President BC Bhartia and Secretary Vinod Gawai had presented their case in an excellent manner and had managed to convince Hockey India. VHA, along with several other associations, had then received Associate Membership of Hockey India.
However, Hockey India has once again raked up the issue and has mailed notices to 10 hockey Units including VHA asking them to merge with the State body. In VHA’s case, it, along with The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd, will have to merge with Hockey Maharashtra, which has its headquarters at Pune.
VHA’s merger with Hockey Maharashtra means it will be reduced to a district unit. The biggest sufferer will be the players who will have to fight for place in the Maharashtra squad.
At present VHA sends its teams (18 member) to Hockey India organised national championships.
The deadline given by HI to merge with State association is June 30, 2020.
“From July 1, 2020 onwards the membership of your unit with Hockey India will deemed to be withdrawn and you will be required to co-ordinate your sports activities related to hockey with respective the State Member,” the notice stated.
According to the HI circular issued on Monday, a copy of which is with ‘The Hitavada’, Hockey India has emphasised all the state associations to sync their functioning /structure with the Constitution of Indian Olympic Association (IOC).
The circular, signed by Cdr R K Shrivastava, VSM, Executive Director, Hockey India, has been addressed to President/General Secretary of Andhra Hockey Association, Hockey Madhya Bharat, Hockey Bhopal, Hockey Gangpur,- Odisha, Hockey Patiala, Bengaluru Hockey Association, Hockey Coorg, Hockey Him, The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd and Vidarbha Hockey Association.
Hockey India cited Clause 31.1.3 of IOA’s Constitution which stated: “The right to vote in any of the National Sports Federation is granted to those Associations that have only one Sports Association in one State for those sports. It implies, therefore, that in the field of Sports, it will be “One State, One Unit” and at the National level it will also be one unit (National Sports Federation) for one sport.”
The notice also stated that IOA has recently issued direction in this regard to Equestrian Federation of India.
The matter of bringing all state units in IOA Constitution was discussed in the HI Congress held in November 2019. “It was decided that henceforth Hockey India is also required to follow Clause 31.1.3 of IOA’s Constitution. As such there will henceforth be ‘One State, One Unit’ in Hockey India also.
“It was also decided that the above decision will take effect from 1st July, 2020. Therefore, the teams of your unit will be permitted to participate in the scheduled events being conducted by Hockey India up to 30th June, 2020,” the letter
stated.
This means VHA teams can participate in the forthcoming national championships for boys and girls which will be held before June 30, 2020. After that their existence, in all probability, will end.
-------------
To save VHA, all members
should come together: Sidhra
By Paritosh Pramanik
TO SAVE the existence of Vidarbha Hockey Association (VHA) all members, including the 13 executive committee members, will now have to come together for the sake of players, felt Deputy Charity Commissioner-appointed VHA Administrator Triloki Nath Sidhra.
VHA, at present, is run by Administrator Sidhra after differences grew in the ruling 13-member body.
Sidhra said he had talked with Hockey India Executive Director Cdr RK Shrivastava, VSM on the precarious situation. “I had a talk with Cdr Shrivastava and he has asked me to send our grievances and reason for not merging with Hockey Maharashtra. I have even talked with other Units like Mumbai, Andhra and a few others. We will chalk out a plan and submit our reports,” Sidhra told ‘The Hitavada’.
“But before that I want all members of VHA to iron out their differences and come together to save existence of the association. This is very crucial time for the association and bickering among ourselves will only harm our efforts to save VHA,” said Sidhra.
Sidhra also claimed that Hockey Maharashtra Secretary Manoj Bhore has never invited them for any meeting. “I have not talked with Mr Bhore. We were never invited to attend any meeting of Hockey Maharashtra,” he said.
Hockey India has given time to ‘associate’ units till June 30, 2020 and Sidhra said they will find out some way to convince HI.
“It’s almost six months for us to save our association. We have to present our case with a powerful draft. We will have to show how VHA is working for the development of the game since more than 60 years,” said Sidhra.
“But this will be possible only if all the stakeholders keep their egos away and come together. Moreover, they should think about the players who would be the biggest losers,” Sidhra signed off.
No comments:
Post a Comment