Pakistan hockey must follow the India model and be willing to change: FIH chief Tayyab Ikram | Hockey News

NEW DELHI: Tayyab Ikram has completed two months in the office after replacing Narinder Batra as International Hockey Federation (FIH) president in July 2022. He took time out from his visit at the ongoing Men’s World Cup in Odisha to meet the media in Rourkela and share his vision, including that of reviving Pakistan hockey.
Batra stepped down as the FIH boss following a Delhi High Court order asking him to stop functioning as the Indian Olympic Association chief. As a result, he had to also relinquish his position as an International Olympic Committee member.
In fresh elections for the FIH presidency, Ikram defeated Belgium’s Marc Coudron 79-47 in polls held during the FIH Congress last year.
“Interesting journey, I must say (first 60 days as FIH president)…I have entered into this new role with one thing, to enhance engagement and empowerment.”

The Q&A session quickly veered to the most expected question: Can FIH revive Pakistan hockey?
Pakistan, the team to win the World Cup four times, which is the most by any nation, couldn’t qualify for the 2023 edition and had to live through the embarrassment of missing the tournament for the second time after 2014.
The disappointing aspect, however, has been the sheer ignorance of the sport by the Pakistan government and the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).
Two foreign coaches, Roelant Oltmans earlier and Siegfied Aikman lately, have left their positions amid pay disputes with the federation, which has further deepened the crisis for a sport that was once Pakistan’s pride.
“Pakistan is an important stakeholder. If you see in recent tournaments, still the world’s best (hockey) property is the India-Pakistan match,” said the FIH boss, who was the Asian Hockey Federation secretary and chief executive earlier, in his reply.
“There is always assistance from the global governing body. I remember I was the one, together with (former FIH president) Els van Breda Vriesman, to start the Indian Hockey Special Project, as it was called by the FIH. I will be very happy to launch a project for Pakistan as well, but there must be some willingness from both sides that they can come to this journey,” Tayyab, who hails from Macau, said.
“We don’t have to go too far. You don’t need to really follow very different models, just follow the model that Hockey India did: consistent approach, professional approach, high-performance input for their athletes…Change the whole landscape, change the mindset and you go for it.
“India won the Olympics bronze medal in Tokyo. It didn’t happen in two days’ time, so that is the way.”
HOCKEY INDIA LEAGUE
While it’s the prerogative of Hockey India to revive the Hockey India League (HIL), which vanished after five seasons from 2013 to 2017, Tayyab said it will require a window that allows international players to be part of it.
“There is already some discussion to find a window. No update on that right now. If there will be a formal proposal from Hockey India, we will look into it,” said the FIH boss.
“The HIL gave us a big boost. Let’s see how it combines with the Pro League because you need (top) athletes available. We are on this question but still waiting for it.”