New Delhi:
In his effort to put up a unified hockey body, sports minister Ajay Maken has called for a meeting of Hockey India (HI) and the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) today.
Earlier this week, Maken told reporters that accompanied by HI officials he went last month to meet former IHF president K.P.S. Gill, now an advisor, but there was no solution.
Hockey India has the recognition of the world body (FIH) while IHF, which was disbanded by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on charges of corruption, has been re-instituted by the court.
The sports minister said that he wants equal representation from both the associations in the unified body.
"I want equal representations from both IHF and Hockey India in the unified body. It is very important to have a unified body in place. I have called both the parties again Saturday and want them to come together on equal terms," said the minister.
Maken added that the sports ministry is awaiting HI's recommendations on having a foreign coach.
"Till date we haven't received any names from HI. We appointed Harendra Singh earlier because he was recommended by HI. We are not against the appointment of a foreign coach, but first they have to provide us with some names," he said.
The sports ministry also allocated Rs. 21 crore for the preparation of the men's and women's teams for the 2012 London Olympics.