IANS

Hyderabad, Jul 19: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the International Hockey Federation (FIH)on Friday recognised the Indian Hockey Confederation (IHC) as the sole governing body of the sport in the country. In future it will be known as Hockey India.

The IHC will get the official stamp of the IOA in its general body meeting in November. It will now represent both the men and the women and from now on the Indian Women's Hockey Federation (IWHF) will cease to exist. The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF), which was the men's body, was dissolved in April by the IOA following a bribery scandal involving its general secretary K. Jyothikumaran.

The IOA appointed ad-hoc committee is now in charge of the men's sport. And the committee is headed by IOA president Suresh Kalmadi. The announced of IHC's recognition was jointly made by Kalmadi and FIH president Els van Breda Vriesman.

"We will recognise the IHC and will extend all kind of support to them. This is a new beginning for Indian hockey," Vriesman told reporters here.

She also said that the FIH has decided to reinstate the 2010 World Cup to New Delhi, following the installation of the new body. The FIH had earlier threatened to take back the World Cup if the IOA failed to clean up the mess in the IHF.

Vriesman also said that the role of Australian Ric Charlesworth as the technical advisor of Indian hockey is over.

"He has contributed a lot in his role as the technical advisor of Indian hockey. Charlesworth has submitted his report and his role is over. We are very happy with what he did and he has tendered his resignation and it has been accepted by the Sports Authority of India," she said.

Vriesman also said that Project Promoting Indian Hockey will continue and if the ad-hoc committee wanted any advice the world body will provide it.