After missing its November 20 deadline, Hockey India on Friday got one last chance to clear its mess before next year’s World Cup with the FIH granting an extension up to first week of February.
The HI has promised to conduct the elections before the new deadline after a series of meetings with International Hockey Federation vice-president Antonio von Ondarza, who is also the FIH-appointed observer for the polls. “I can confirm that the elections will be held in February next year, just before the World Cup,” AK Mattoo, HI president, told
DNA.
The new election date will come barely two weeks before the World Cup, scheduled for February 28 to March 13 in New Delhi. As per the FIH directive, incase HI fails to hold the election on time, hosts India will be barred from taking part in the high-profile event.
Meanwhile, HI was headed for a new crisis with secretary general Mohammad Aslam resigning from the post. Mattoo said he would accept it. “It is unfortunate that he has resigned at such a time. Some of the comments he has made are unfair and I am quite upset and hurt by all these,” Mattoo said.
A disgusted Aslam said he had first offered his resignation in July. “I first offered my resignation on July 24 but that time it was not accepted. It is disgusting to work with these lot of people who are just interested in murky politics and not the betterment of the game. My tenure ends on November 20 and I promised to hold the elections before that, accordingly we fixed the November 18 date. But now when it is clear that the deadline won’t be met I don’t want to carry on after the due date. Principally and morally it is incorrect,” Aslam said.
