In response to a request for aid from the Afghanistan Hockey Federation (AHF), Hockey India (HI) has decided to send hockey sticks, balls and goalkeeping pads to the war-affected country.
The decision was taken at HI’s recent Executive Board meeting.
Besides, HI increased the annual grant for its member state units from Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh. An associate member (non-institutional) will get Rs. 3 lakh and other members will get Rs. 2 lakh each in a year.
HI decided to appoint sports mechanics experts and video analysts for men and women teams at senior and junior levels and introduce the newly-announced International Hockey Federation (FIH) rules and regulations, featuring four quarters of 15 minutes each, in domestic events from June next. HI will introduce a new category of membership — Hoc-Key Member for under-15 teams. Five new academy members — R.D.T. Academy, Chennai, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Academy, Punjab, Tamil Nadu Hockey Academy, Nehru- NDMC Hockey Academy, New Delhi and Hubli Hockey Academy, Karnataka — were also added. — Special Correspondent
