Sports Ministry forms seven-member panel to resolve Hockey India League uncertainty

The Hockey India League has recently run into trouble with uncertainty clouding over the next season. | Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY

The Sports Ministry has constituted a seven-member committee to work out the modalities of the governance structure and way forward to ensure the continuation of the Hockey India League.

Headed by former Odisha sports secretary and current Joint Secretary (Khelo India), R. Vineel Krishna, as the government’s representative, the committee includes Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, secretary general Bholanath Singh, and treasurer Sekar J. Manoharan, among others.

The three representatives named from among the HIL franchises are JSW Sports CEO Divyanshu Singh, SG Pipers’ CEO Mahesh Bhupathi, and Hyderabad Toofans’ owner Alok Sanghi.

The ministry had directed the formation of a committee to find a resolution to the stalemate and uncertainty surrounding the HIL and working out the governance and financial models for the league.

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The move comes amidst growing friction between Tirkey and other HI officials, including Bholanath, with the latter reportedly calling two consecutive executive board meetings despite Tirkey’s declaring them illegal and invalid.

Meanwhile, sources claimed that the Indian Olympic Association’s committee constituted to look into allegations of harassment by former captain Asunta Lakra had its first meeting on Wednesday.

Interestingly Mamta Kharab, the one former hockey player nominated in the committee, was not part of Wednesday’s hearing.

Elections deferred

The Hockey India elections, initially scheduled for November 7, have been postponed with fresh dates yet to be announced.

Sources said the elections might now take place by the end of next month or early December, citing HI rules that mandate a 60-day notice and the unavailability of the appointed electoral officer Sudhir Tripathi.

The decision was taken in the HI EB meeting held on Tuesday.

Interestingly, it has also been learned that Tirkey has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court against the federation’s two most recent EB meetings and the decisions taken therein, including the pending elections.