Resolve differences to get govt help: Maken to HI, IHF

India hockey can make progress only if Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Hockey India (HI) come together to run the sport, sports minister Ajay Maken said during his visit to the city on Sunday. Maken added that if the two bodies did not join forces, the government’s focus will shift to other sports.

Maken visited Pune for the prize distribution ceremony at Gagan Narang’s academy Gun For Glory in Balewadi. “Both the bodies (IHF and HI) should come together and run the sport. We tried to get both the bodies together but unfortunately even after the bodies signed the treaty, it didn’t get recognition from Indian Olympic Association and International Hockey Federation,” Maken said while addressing the media.

The sports minister went on to add that if the hockey bodies want to get government’s support, they should unite and run the sport in a better way. “I still believe until and unless these body keep their differences aside, hockey will not grow in the country. On one hand we have sports like shooting, boxing, wrestling, badminton, which are bringing Olympic medals and on the other hand we have a sport which is seeing infighting among the two bodies. Naturally, our focus will go towards other sports when it comes to government’s help,” he added.

Talking about Gun For Glory and other academies run by iconic players, Maken said the ministry will make funds available for such sports institutes. “Academies like Gun For Glory and Gopichand’s institute in Hyderabad will produce champions in the future. I feel academies run by iconic players should get maximum help from the sports ministry. I will make sure that they get some help from the sports development funds of the sports ministry to set up the facilities and equipments,” the minister added.

He also spoke about sports ministry’s next target — 2020 Olympics.

“We will be getting more foreign coaches. We have to get them within two or three months, so that we can get the best of the coaches. Moreover, this time, they will be hired on Olympics-to-Olympics cycle, rather than on a short-term contract. This will allow them more time to train our players,” he said.