Gyanendro Ningombam Elected Unopposed as Hockey India President
Gyanendro Ningombam of Manipur was on Friday elected unopposed as the chairman of Hockey India replacing Mohammad Mushtaq Ahmed who was asked by the Sports Ministry to resign due to violation of National Sports Code tenure guidelines. Ahmed, however, was elected Hockey India Congress and senior vice president unopposed in the election here. Members units unable to travel amidst the corona virus epidemic attended the meeting via video conference.
Ningombam is the first member of the Northeast to hold the position of Hockey India President. He was the acting president since Mohammad Mushtaq Ahmed resigned in July. The Sports Ministry had asked Ahmed to resign since his election in 2018 was in violation of National Sports Code tenure guidelines. The federation was asked to hold fresh elections for the post of president. Under the National Sports Code, no official can hold the post for three consecutive terms. Ahmed was the Treasurer of Hockey India from 2010 to 2014. After this, he became general secretary in 2014 and was elected to the post of president for four years in 2018.
Hockey India was informed of this in 2019 but the federation contends that Ahmed held the position of treasurer before Hockey India was recognized by the Sports Ministry and cannot be counted in the tenure. However, the argument was rejected by the ministry. Ningombam will hold the post for two years. He has also been the executive officer of Manipur Hockey from 2009 to 2014.
Under Ahmed’s tenure, Hockey India hosted several international tournaments including the 2018 World Cup. Hockey India Secretary General Rajinder Singh said in a statement, “I congratulate Gyanendro Ningombam on being elected the President of Hockey India. Along with this, I also congratulate Mohammad Mushtaq Ahmed on his return to the Executive Board of Hockey India as Senior Vice President. ”The meeting also discussed the resumption of tournaments which will begin with the National Championship in 2021.