KPS Gill sacked, Hockey Federation suspended

ON HIS WAY OUT: Gill leaves after the Indian Olympic Association's meeting in Delhi on Monday.

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New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Monday dissolved the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and in its place appointed a five-member ad hoc committee to run hockey in the country.

K P S Gill, IHF chief for 14 years, was sacked. Announcing the decisions here, IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi said the decision was unanimous and it was taken in the interest of Indian hockey though it was "painful" to remove K P S. Gill.

Kalmadi has been authorised to name the members of the ad hoc committee.

The emergency meeting of the IOA also named a five-member national selection committee headed by Aslam Sher Khan, a former MP and former hockey captain. Ashok Kumar, Ajitpal Singh, Zafar Iqbal and Dhanraj Pillay will be the other selectors.

It was also decided to appoint Australian Ric Charlesworth as adviser to the ad hoc committee.

The IOA took the “unanimous” decisions at an emergency meeting to discuss a TV channel’s sting operation which caught IHF secretary K Jothikumaran accepting bribe to select a player in the national team.

"It is a painful decision that we made today. But it had to be taken since there were corruption allegations. We have taken the decision after discussions with former Olympians, captains and all those who have played for India," said Kalmadi.

"Gill was there (meeting) throughout. It was a unanimous decision and no one spoke against it. We have great respect for KPS Gill and it is not personal.

"We had invited Jothikumaran to present his point of view (on the bribery scandal) but he did not turn up. It was an opportunity for him to present his case. KPS Gill was present throughout the meeting and he presented his point of view," said Kalmadi.

"The Executive Committee has empowered the IOA president to appoint the ad-hocc committee in consultation with the National Sports Federations and former Olympians."

Gill, in an interview to CNN-IBN last week, had rejected demands for him to resign. “Not at all. Not at all,” he had said when asked if he was considering resigning.

“I look around and I find nobody (to replace me)” he had said.

(With inputs from PTI and IANS)