Communication gap in IHF

Bangalore, Oct 28: 8220;It8217;s the prerogative of the Indian Hockey Federation president to announce any Indian team from wherever and whenever he wants,8221; was how the IHF secretary general K Jothikumaran reacted to the blatant communication gap between the top two IHF executives.

The secretary general had, on Tuesday, while talking to The Indian Express stated the team for the four-nation pre-Asian Games tournament to be held at Bangkok from November 1 would be announced only on Wednesday. 8220;But the president, on his own, decided to announce the team from Delhi and did so on Tuesday night,8221; Jothikumaran back tracked on Wednesday evening. And promptly, the third and final trial was cancelled and the probables in the preparatory camp at Sports Authority of India South Centre, played a friendly match between themselves in the evening at the Akkithimmanahalli Stadium.

The IHF president, KPS Gill, who was present to witness the friendly refused to talk to the scribes.

The news of the team beingannounced in a section of the press, while the other section quoted Jothikumaran about the selection only on Wednesday came as a shock to many of the hockey administrators.

8220;I was shocked to see the team being announced, when one more trial was yet to be finished,8221; was how one top administrator reacted. Another quipped: 8220;Well, gentlemen, that8217;s the way the IHF works. The left hand does not what the right one does.8221;