Appointment SAI DG as Hockey India administrator: Malik

Chandigarh, Jul 29 : It's a doom day for Indian hockey. This crisp comment was made by former Indian Hockey Federation vice-president and former Haryana Director General of Police, M S Malik, while expressing his anguish at the sorry state of affairs in the Indian hockey.

With elections of Hockey India, which were scheduled for yesterday, getting postoned indefinitely following a court order, Malik suggested that Director General of Sports Authority of India should be appointed the Administrator of HI.

Elaborating the function under the SAI Director General, 1998 Bangkok Asian Games gold medal winning Indian hockey team manager, Malik said three former Indian hockey captains should be in the panel to man the affair of Indian hockey. One female Olympian hockey player must be included in the panel.

This panel should continue to select, train and send teams for the international tournaments, including New Delhi Commonwealth Games, World Cup for Women, Asian Games and Olympic Games. The panel should continue under the overall charge of the SAI Director General till new office-bearers are elected democratically, Malik who is actively associated with the Indian hockey for the last three decades said.

A panel of selectors (Olympians) should be appointed for selection of the Indian teams for various interntional tournaments.

They should attend all national level tournaments and spot the talents. They must be present all days of the tournaments. It should not be confined to performing formalities while shortlisting the players for coaching camps or the selecting the teams. The SAI DGP must ensure the presence of selectors at the important tournaments, Malik noted.

A physical trainer must be taken on the panel, according to Malik who also advised that personal interference by officials of the Indian Olympic Association and Indian Hockey Federation in the affairs of Indian hockey must be stopped immediately in the interest of sports.

'' The pitable situation in the Indian hockey is due to personal ego of certain persons who are virtually ruining sports in the country. With a view to ending bickering all sports cases pending in the various courts across the country should be withdrawn,'' Malik said.

Malik had earlier said that Olympian and Padamshree Pargat Singh is the right choice for the Hockey India.

--UNI