New Delhi: Gyanendro Ningombam has been as the President of Hockey India and Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad, who was the former President has returned to the Hockey India Executive Board becoming unopposed for the senior vice-president post.
The 10th Hockey India Congress & Elections was being held on Friday (November 6) in New Delhi by the governing body for hockey. The newly elected President along with the senior vice president officially took charge of the respective duties.
Ningombam of Manipur, who has been elected for two years, became the first President Hockey India from the North East region while previously holding the position of president after Mohd Mushtaque resigned in July, earlier this year as well as serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Manipur Hockey between 2009-2014 laying path in developing the sport at the grassroots level.
Mohd. Mushtaque is an experienced sports administrator over the years with Hockey India hosting FIH Men’s World Cup in 2018 under his leadership which was applauded quite extensively. He recently held the post of President till July this year.
“I congratulate Mr Gyanendro Ningombam on being Elected Unopposed as the President of Hockey India and welcome Mr Mohd Mushtaque Ahmad back into the Hockey India Executive Board in a new capacity as the Senior Vice President. Both Gyanendro and Mushtaque have several years of experience in hockey administration and I am confident their expertise will benefit the sport,” explained Rajinder Singh, HI secretary-general.
“Their advice will be instrumental in developing the sport further in the country and their leadership will help us work towards achieving our goals. We had a very fruitful meeting today with representatives from all State Member Units, there were various key discussion points; resuming the domestic calendar and the need for support of all state member units in terms of following all the Government Guidelines to hold another successful Annual National Championship in 2021 especially with the COVID-19 situation still prevalent in the country.
“Planning for the upcoming year 2021 was another key discussion point, where the status of competitions for all four national teams were discussed and the need for more international exposure for both the senior and junior teams which will be key in the preparations leading up to the Olympics and Junior World Cups respectively. Our aim is to ensure we leave no stone unturned in the teams’ preparations for the Olympics & Junior World Cups,” Singh further added.
Sporting activities in India was given an allowance by the Ministry of Home Affairs in September earlier this year while the 10th Hockey India Congress was being held with members discussing resuming of the domestic circuit of the sport and so on in India with all safety measures kept in mind due to the current pandemic situation.
