Hockey is the national as well as one of the most popular games of India. And the management of Indian Hockey is carried out by a large number of associations in India. These associations can be classified in many ways.
There are district associations, state associations and the national association like Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) in India. All the district and state associations in India are working under the supervision of Indian Hockey Federation for the management of Indian Hockey.
Early events in Management of Indian Hockey
The first ever body that was established in India for the management of Indian Hockey was the Hockey club in Calcutta (presently called as Kolkata, West Bengal). The club was established in 1885-86, as the first Hockey club in India and soon after that, two more clubs were founded in the cities like Bombay (present day Mumbai) and Punjab. The first ever Hockey association in India was also founded in Bengal and it was named as the Bengal Hockey. Some other hockey associations were also founded in the state like Mumbai, Bihar, Odisha and Delhi within the next few years.
Indian Hockey Federation
Indian Hockey Federation was established in the year 1925, the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) is the main governing body for Hockey in India. Apart from the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and the state and district hockey associations, there is also another body that is working for management of Indian hockey.
The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and all the other hockey associations are engaged in organising various tournaments and conducting training programmes for upbringing the young talents in Hockey. The associations are dedicated to the development and well being of Hockey in India. The IHF and the State Hockey Associations are also in charge of managing the Hockey stadiums in India.
Further developments in Management of Indian Hockey
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) appointed a new five-member national selection committee. The committee is better known as the New Committee (IOA) and it will work in conjunction with the International Field Hockey Federation (FIH) in managing hockey in India. The legendary Indian Hockey player, Aslam Sher Khan was inducted as the first chairman of the national selection committee.
The IHF, IOA and state level organisations have consistently been doing much for the management of Indian hockey, and their organisation can claim a fairly long established heritage. India is a significant international hockey nation, and although it is no longer the legendary team it once was (from the 20s to the 60s), it still has a significant international presence, attributable at least in part to the efforts of its Hockey management bodies.
Hockey India
Hockey India is the governing body of field hockey in India. It was formed after Indian Hockey Federation was dismissed in 2008 by IOA, with a sponsorship of Sahara India Pariwar.