Latest news with #HI
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
SC cites ‘one-state, one-unit' rule, allows VHA to withdraw plea for HI membership
Nagpur: Vidarbha Hockey Association's (VHA) last ditch effort to get recognized as an associate-member of the national body 'Hockey India' was on Monday rejected by the Supreme Court . While refusing to entertain a VHA petition, the partial working day (PWD) bench of justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta verbally said, "Hockey is an Olympic sport and under the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) regulations, there can be only one association from one state. " Hockey Maharashtra is one of the 28 permanent members of Hockey India, which also has a total of 32 associate and 55 academy members. The VHA was an affiliated unit of HI in 2013, but the membership was taken away in January 2020. VHA challenged HI's decision in the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court. As legal proceedings were ongoing, HI retained VHA as an associate member till 2024. With the HC upholding HI decision, VHA's membership with the HI was considered withdrawn effective from July 1, 2020. In the Supreme Court, VHA prayed that HI continue it as an associate-member. When justice Kant examined the matter further, VHA's counsel informed that the association was in fact an associate-member of HI for six years from 2013. In 2020 that membership was taken away citing one-state, one-unit rule. The counsel also claimed that Delhi had over 20 associate-members in HI. Akshay Mann, VHA counsel, also cited the rules applied to cricket, where Maharashtra has three associations — Vidarbha Cricket Association, Maharashtra Cricket Association, and Mumbai Cricket Association — affiliated to the national body, Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI). He questioned the revocation of VHA's associate membership of HI. F rom the material placed on record, justice Datta noted that the petitioner was referring to the BCCI and Kabaddi Federation, which are not Olympic sports. According to the IOA regulations, the judge upheld the HI order in question, de-registering not only VHA but also Mumbai Hockey Association, as there can be only one association in Maharashtra. The judge orally grilled the VHA counsel as to what was the urgency to get the matter listed in partial court working days. "June 2024 order... you are filing SLP in May 2025... you are getting it listed in vacation... please tell us what is the urgency?" Before justice Kant dictated the order, justice Datta pointed to a specific page in the records, questioning if the petitioner had countered the aspect by filing an affidavit before the high court. When VHA counsel replied in negative, the judge said, "Then, that's the end of the matter... you should have explained before the high court, not before the Supreme Court for the first time." After hearing brief arguments, the SC bench allowed the petitioner to withdraw the case. Finally, the case was dismissed as withdrawn. Speaking to TOI VHA counsel Mann said, "This fight will continue. Clause 3.10 of the sports code says that there can be many types of membership without voting rights. There are still some valid and unresolved points which can be covered. We will reveal our strategy after discussions with VHA."
India Gazette
24-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Hockey India Masters Cup 2025 to begin from June 18 in Chennai
New Delhi [India], May 24 (ANI): Hockey India (HI) has officially announced the venue and dates for the first-ever Hockey India Masters Cup 2025 (Men's and women's). The inaugural edition of this pioneering tournament will be hosted by the Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu in Chennai from June 18 to June 27. This event marks a new chapter in Indian hockey, offering a dedicated platform for veteran players. With competitions in both men's and women's categories, the Hockey India Masters Cup is poised to be a celebration of longevity, passion, and the enduring love for the game. As per the regulations, a player must be aged 40 and above to compete in the men's category and 35 and above in the women's category. The names of the teams for both categories will be released shortly. To participate in the event, players must register through their respective State Member Units. The competition will follow a league-cum-knockout format, with pools structured based on the final number of participating teams. Former Indian Women's Hockey Team captain Asunta Lakra expressed her excitement for the tournament and said, as quoted by the Hockey India press release, 'Being part of the first-ever Hockey India Masters Cup is a deeply emotional and exciting moment for me. Hockey has shaped who I am, and to have the chance to return to the field, surrounded by fellow veterans who've shared similar journeys, is truly special.' 'This tournament isn't just about competition--it's about legacy, passion, and the lifelong bond we all have with the sport. I applaud Hockey India for creating this platform for former players to relive the joy of the game and continue inspiring the next generation. I'm proud to wear my boots again, not just for the love of the game, but for everything it has given us over the years,' she added. (ANI)
News18
23-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
HI Announces India Masters Cup, Inaugural Edition To Be Held In Chennai
Last Updated: The age eligibility for the league and knockout tournament for he veterans is 40 years for the men's category and 35 for the women's section. Hockey India announced the initiation of the Hockey India Masters Cup 2025, an event for veterans of the sport, slated to begin on the 18th of June in Chennai. The age eligibility for the league and knockout tournament is 40 years for the men's category and 35 for the women's section, with the pool structure based on the final number of participating teams. HI took to the social media platform to officially announce the dates of the event on Friday, with a post that read, 'Legends O f The Game Back In Action. Get ready for an epic showdown as our hockey legends take the field at the first Hockey India Masters Cup 2025 in Chennai! From 18 June to 27 June 2025, the action will unfold. This landmark tournament marks a new chapter in Indian hockey, celebrating veteran players who have shaped the game with their experience and passion." ???????????????????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????????????? 🏑Get ready for an epic showdown as our hockey legends take the field at the first Hockey India Masters Cup 2025 in Chennai! From 18 June to 27 June 2025, the action will unfold. This landmark tournament marks a… — Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) May 23, 2025 The names of the teams for both categories will be released shortly. To participate, players must register through their respective state member units, according to a statement from HI. Former Indian women's hockey team skipper Asunta Lakra expressed her delight on the event for veterans ahead of the inaugural season. 'Being part of the first-ever Hockey India Masters Cup is a deeply emotional and exciting moment for me. Hockey has shaped who I am, and to have the chance to return to the field, surrounded by fellow veterans who've shared similar journeys, is truly special," Lakra began. 'This tournament isn't just about competition, it's about legacy, passion, and the lifelong bond we all have with the sport. I applaud Hockey India for creating this platform for former players to relive the joy of the game and continue inspiring the next generation," she added. 'I'm proud to wear my boots again, not just for the love of the game, but for everything it has given us over the years," the veteran concluded.
NDTV
20-05-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Hockey India To Follow Guidelines: Official On Pakistan's Asia Cup Participation
A top official of Indian hockey federation on Tuesday made it clear that it will follow government guidelines on Pakistan's participation in Asia Cup, which the country is hosting later this year, in the wake of the recent military conflict between the two nations. A ceasefire was agreed upon between the two countries after days of intense cross-border hostilities in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack that killed 26 people, following which the IPL too remained suspended for a brief period. When asked about Pakistan's participation in the upcoming tournament, Hockey India's (HI) secretary general Bholanath Singh said, "Whatever the government decides we will abide by it. Till now we didn't have talks with the government on this. "The country comes first for us. Asia Cup is happening in India, and whatever the government advises us, we will abide by that." The Asia Cup is scheduled to be held in Rajgir, Bihar from August 27 till September 7. Two days ago, a senior official in the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) said it has asked the sport's continental body to guarantee visas for its contingent to participate in the Asia Cup, which is a qualifying tournament for next year's men's FIH World Cup to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium. Bholanath added, "I am AHF (Asian Hockey Federation) vice-president, I am secretary general of Hockey India, but first I am a citizen of India. Whatever the country and the government decides, Hockey India will follow that. Posts are different, but country's honour comes first." Serious doubts though remain over Pakistan's participation in the Asia Cup because of the tensions between the two countries.
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Hockey India awaits government guidelines for Asia Cup; no decision yet on Pakistan's participation
Amid reports of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) seeking visa guarantees for the upcoming Asia Cup, Hockey India (HI) made it clear on Tuesday that the nation comes first and the federation would abide by the government's advice on the matter. 'As of now, there have neither been any talks with the government nor any guideline or advisory from them. There is enough time at the moment, the Asia Cup is three months away and as and when something comes from the government, we will act accordingly,' HI secretary general Bhola Nath Singh said on the sidelines of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amity University Online (AUO) here. Singh, who is also an Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) vice-president, insisted that there had been no discussion at the continental level either on the issue. 'I am with the AHF and HI but I am also an Indian and the country comes first. We have ambitious plans including hosting the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics but let the Indian government first say something, only then we can respond,' he added. Accommodate more European players Singh also announced that the 2026 season of the Hockey India League (HIL) will commence on January 5 to accommodate more players from Europe while categorically denying there were any pending players' dues from the previous season. HI has opened player registration for the forthcoming season and Singh said the decision was taken to avoid clashing with Christmas holidays which forced several players to skip the tournament when the HIL began on December 28. 'We want maximum participation and have decided to move the competition by a week. I can also confirm that there will be eight men and six women's teams. As for payments, all my players have got their dues cleared, there is nothing pending to my knowledge and any such reports are wrong. Discussions are also ongoing with the franchises and we will take a final decision on the venues depending on the suitability for everyone.' Singh, however, refused to say anything on Team Gonasika pulling out and about the possible replacements. Sources added that a trading window will be announced after the player registration period is over on August 20 to allow franchises to rework their team compositions, followed by a mini-auction to facilitate player release and new signings. Scholarships The MoU with AUO, meanwhile, will see the university offer comprehensive education courses for hockey players from state to international levels with scholarships ranging from 30 to 100 per cent to help them pursue higher education and training – the first time a National Sports Federation has formally established an educational system for its athletes. The AUO will also provide free access to a three-month certificate course in Sports Psychology for all athletes.
