HI derecognises Air India for non-payment of membership fee

Hockey India has derecognised Air India as its associate member with immediate effect due to non-payment of membership fee.

The decision was taken unanimously in the executive board meeting of HI held at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday.

HI derecognised Air India for non-payment of their annual membership fee since 2010-11.

Air India has been a member of HI since 2009 and in 2012 it was demoted to associate Member due to non-payment of their annual membership fee.

HI secretary general Narinder Batra said despite repeated reminders Air India has not paid its annual membership fee since 2010-2011, following which the national body was forced to take the extreme step according to its rules and regulations.

“Although it was tough to derecognise Air India as an associate member but discipline should be maintained for the smooth functioning of the National Sports Federation. We expect all the affiliate members and associate members to work professionally which is the basic criteria to develop any sport in the country,” Batra said in a statement.

Hockey India now has 32 state member units, five associate members and two members through State Olympic Associations.