The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and the Indian Women's Hockey Federation (IWHF) on Thursday initiated the process of their amalgamation.
The general houses of both the bodies met here and unanimously passed resolutions for the merger of the two.
IWHF Secretary-General Amrit Bose claimed that 30 out of 33 IWHF units were present, while an IHF source said 90 per cent of its members attended the meeting.
After the Union Sports Ministry de-recognised Hockey India (HI) and backed the IHF as the National federation of the game in India, both IHF and IWHF got together for their unification as it was mandatory to get the International Hockey Federation (FIH) recognition.
According to IHF President K.P.S. Gill, after giving a 21-day notice, the IHF would make necessary amendments to its constitution at its special general meeting next month (probably on September 9) to allow its amalgamation with the IWHF. Thus, the IHF would continue to exist as a unified body for both men and women.
Following the approval from the Registrar of Societies, the IHF would hold its elections in October (before the Dussehra holidays). Until the elections, executive boards of both the bodies would jointly function and manage the affairs.
Sources said the unification of the State associations would be held in a similar manner.
Composition
The composition of the executive body of the IHF would allow the representation of men and women in 60:40 ratio.
Some HI affiliated members (who had supported Pargat Singh for the president's post in the HI elections), including Bengal and Punjab, were present at the IHF-IWHF meeting. Sources said the IHF did not have any problem in accommodating HI functionaries as it wanted genuine hockey administrators to run the sport.
“He (Pargat) is with us. He met Mr. Gill on Wednesday and was scheduled to attend this meeting. But he could not make it due to some work,” Mrs. Bose said, adding that initiatives would be taken to involve former players in the elected federation.
Mr. Gill summed up the celebratory mood in his camp. “You can also see some of the members whom you may have missed seeing in hockey circles in the last couple of years,” he said.
