Hockey India to terminate the membership of 10 associations shortly

In an unexpected turn of events, the membership of about ten associations are listed to be withdrawn with effect from July 1 this year, Hockey India wrote in a statement. It stated that the multiple associations enlisted are required to adhere to the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) motto of ‘one state, one unit’.

The letter, as reported by Times of India, further read: "...The teams of your units will be permitted to participate in the scheduled events being conducted by Hockey India up to 30, June 2020. Further, from July 1, 2020, onwards the membership of your unit with Hockey India will be deemed to be withdrawn and you will be required to coordinate your sporting activities related to hockey with your respective state unit."

Months ago, Hockey India had invited all three state units -- namely, Bengaluru Hockey Association (the erstwhile Karnataka Hockey Association), Hockey Coorg, and Hockey Karnataka -- to become associate members of the national hockey federation with the urge to revive the game of hockey in the country. All three state bodies followed it up by putting up separate teams in the two divisions of nationals in various categories for both men and women.

The recent development comes after the IOA has, in more than one instance, emphasised the need for national federations to work in tandem with the clauses laid down in the constitution. It reads: “The right to vote in any of the national sports federations is granted to those associations that have only one sports association in one state for those sports. It implies, therefore, that in the field of sports, it will be ‘one state, one unit’ and at the national level it will also be one unit (national sports federation) for one sport.”

With regard to the aforementioned objective, only one team from the state, Hockey Karnataka, will be allowed to compete in the Nationals. Hockey India is hopeful that the decision will yield results in the long term as the right amount of focus will be put on player management and long-term implications as and when needed. The move elevates the level of uncertainty whether the Bengaluru Hockey Association will have to wind itself up on the four leagues and other state tournaments usually conducted throughout the year, despite being the most active of the three governing bodies in the state.

"We need more clarity on many issues. Nowhere in the letter has it been mentioned that we have to end our hockey activities. As such, we are hopeful of continuing to promote the sport at the district level. But this is my inference. Hopefully, Hockey India will find a way as to how units such as ours will maintain status quo,” BHA secretary K Krishnamurthy told TOI.

Andhra Hockey Association, Hockey Madhya Bharat, Hockey Bhopal, Hockey Gangpur-Odisha, Hockey Patiala, Bengaluru Hockey Association, Hockey Coorg, Hockey Him, The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd, Vidharbha Hockey Association are the ten association members of Hockey India that have been affected so far.