International Hockey Federation (FIH) vice-president Antonio Von Ondarza said on Saturday that the international body will only recognise Hockey India (HI) as the custodian of the sport in the country and not the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF)as decreed by the Indian sports ministry
New Delhi: International Hockey Federation (FIH) vice-president Antonio Von Ondarza said on Saturday that the international body will only recognise Hockey India (HI) as the custodian of the sport in the country and not the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF)as decreed by the Indian sports ministry.
Ondarza said the FIH will stick with HI come what may and there was no question of recognising IHF which was derecognised in 2000 after it failed to merge with the women's federation as per FIH's rule of country one federation.
"We will continue to recognise HI as the official body of the sport in India. We recognise it as it is also affiliated to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). There is no question of recognising IHF again," said Ondarza.
The sports ministry has asked FIH to recognise the KPS Gill-led IHF as the sole governing body of the sport and asked the world body to follow suit.
The sports ministry's decision came a day after it withdrew provisional recognition of HI for not holding the election as per the government guidelines.
