Nation's shame: What now, Mr Ajay Maken?

When an ambitious Ajay Maken took over the reins from MS Gill, little did he know about the baggage of controversies that would be following him.

After the much-debated sports development bill — that won the Union sports minister more enemies than friends — was rejected by the cabinet last week, Tuesday’s decision by the international hockey federation (FIH) to take away this year’s Champions Trophy, from New Delhi, puts Maken and his ministry in a fix.

A lot of questions will now dog the minister, foremost being the future of the merger between Hockey India (HI) and Indian Hockey Federation (IHF). Incidentally, it was the sports ministry that initiated the ‘peace process’ between the warring factions. The FIH has outrightly rejected the proposal, saying it cannot accept the inclusion of IHF in the new set-up as it had been derecognised back in 2000.

Now, if the ministry does not budge, then the FIH has said it will take away the Olympic qualifiers — supposed to be held in the Capital in February next year — as well. The FIH can also bar India from participating in international events.

The officials swung into damage-control mode on Tuesday. “Who else can be blamed, but the ministry?” questioned acting Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president VK Malhotra. “They (FIH) had warned us that any kind of government intervention would lead to sanctions. I had assured (FIH chief Leandro) Negre that the federation’s sovereignty will be maintained. But our minister (Maken) has his own set of ideas,” Malhotra added.

The ministry maintains that it had kept FIH in the loop. The decision has shocked them too. “The Supreme Court had ordered us to resolve the hockey crisis. We were just following those orders. We hope they tell us what exactly they want,” said a ministry official.

Ministry officials are set to meet Negre on September 13 in New Delhi and a day before that, he will hold talks with the officials from HI and IHF. “We will see what the FIH wants us to do and if their demands are feasible, we will incorporate them,” the official added.

The ministry, though, is confident of coming out with a solution and ensure that the Olympic qualifiers stay in India.

But the damage has already been done. Coach Michael Nobbs said that the Indian team was hoping to use the Champions Trophy as a key preparatory tournament before the Olympic qualifiers.

For the record, India have not qualified for the Champions Trophy on merit since 1995. Arjun Halappa, India’s seniormost player, said this will have a huge impact on the team’s preparations before the Olympic qualifiers. “You need to play high-pressure matches. It is really sad that we won’t be a part of the Champions Trophy now,” he rued.