Govt should monitor IHF functioning, demand former players

New Delhi, Sep 25 (UNI) Lambasting the IHF for its continued failure to improve the national team's performance at international level, former Indian captains Ashok Kumar and Zafar Iqbal have demanded monitoring of the hockey federation's functioning by the government.

Former international Ashok Kumar has said it would not have been possible even for his father Dhyan Chand to win an IHF election, the way it was being run today.

Meanwhile, Zafar Iqbal has demanded an emergency meeting of the IHF to discuss India's dismal performance in the recent world cup.

''Biggest drawback facing the IHF is its elections - only those who have money and power can win these elections. No former player can think of becoming an office-bearer of the federation, I think the way IHF elections are fought maybe even Dhyan Chand would not have been able to win the IHF elections,'' Ashok Kumar said in a special programme on BBC Hindi.

''It is impossible for those who have served the country in Hockey to be a part of the IHF. Sports Ministry should monitor the functioning of the IHF, state bodies and also those at the district level,'' Ashok Kumar, who had scored the winning goal for India in 1975 world Cup said.

Suggesting a method to improve the IHF functioning, Kumar said, ''They could have elections for the top-level management of the federation, but for middle level its should be those who have to work for the game and who have been associated with the game. They should be those whose hearts beat for the game and not for money,'' he said.

''It is pointless to expect miracles from the Hockey team in present circumstances. There is no inspiration and no source from where the players could draw inspiration. Indian players do not play to win, they are merely playing to participate,'' he lamented.

Another former Indian captain Zafar Iqbal said, ''I have no hesitation in saying that the Federation of International Hockey (FIH) is more bothered than the IHF at the sorry plight of Indian Hockey.'' ''They want to know what happened to the game in the country which taught Hockey to the world. I demand that the IHF should immediately convene its emergency meeting, all associate members should be invited for the meeting, and a message should go from the Central government also that it is serious about the revival of the national game without any delay,'' Iqbal said.

He feared that if the IHF didn't call an emergency meeting even now things would go from bad to worse.

''Cricket is an industry in the country today and therefore I would not draw any comparison with that game. Some money has to flow into Hockey,'' he said.

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