Kalmadi to head hockey’s ad-hoc committee

IOA President Suresh Kalmadi will head a 5 member ad-hoc committee to look after the affairs of the disbanded IHF.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi will head a five-member ad-hoc committee set up to look after the affairs of the disbanded Indian Hockey Federation.

In the wake of the April 28 meeting of its Special Executive Council, the IOA on Tuesday named the committee members, which also include IOA secretary general Randhir Singh, treasurer AK Mattoo, former Olympian Aslam Sher Khan and Rajiv Mehta.

“As per the decision of the Executive Council, the President of the Indian Olympic Association has appointed a five member ad hoc committee from within the members of the General Assembly of the Indian Olympic Association as per the constitution of the IOA,” the IOA said in a statement.

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The ad hoc committee also appointed three advisors — N Ramachandran (marketing), Bob Davidzon (administration) and Ric Charlesworth (technical) — in its first meeting.

The KPS Gill-led IHF was suspended after federation secretary K Jothikumaran was caught in a sting operation, allegedly taking bribe to accommodate a player in the senior team.

Sports Minister MS Gill was quick to react, asking Gill to quit his post and then International Hockey Federation (FIH) put pressure on the IHF, threatening to scrap its ongoing project in the country and withdrawing the 2010 World Cup allotted to New Delhi.

Subsequently, IOA suspended the IHF and decided to replace it with an ad hoc committee. It has already named a five-member ad hoc selection committee under Aslam Sher Khan, which has named an altered squad for the Azlan Shah hockey tournament.