Non-committal

Indian hockey's ad-hoc committee convener Mohammed Aslam Khan mum on which of the two factions in MHA would get the right to host the National Championships

Suhrid Barua, Pune Mirror, January 27, 2009

There may be a lot of hearts warming over Pune being allotted the National Hockey Championships later this year. But the one question that keep tongues wagging is that the city- has two hockey bodies - the Ikram Khan-led faction and the Benny Boodle-faction. In such a scenario, which one will earn the right to host the national ships? Indian hockey's ad-hoc committee convenor Mohammed Aslam Khan feels it's a non-issue. "You guys like to create controversies. But let me tell you that I'm not aware that there are two factions in Maharashtra Hockey Association (MHA)," he said, trying his best to sidestep the issue. But then, how can one overlook the reality of two factions functioning. Is the ad-hoc committee of Indian hockey looking at ways and means to sort things amicably? "As a convener of the Indian hockey's ad-hoc committee, I can only tell you that it's a trival issue to be given so much importance. Whatever call needs to be taken on it, ad-hoc committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi will act on it," Khan quipped.
With the championship likely to be held in two months time, is he willing to stick his neck out on a timeframe for the same? "I don't want to repeat what I had said. As I told you, Mr Kalmadi will decide," was how he put it.