Holding president's post in violation of sports code, Mushtaque Ahmed resigns as HI's president

NEW DELHI: There’s a change of guard in Hockey India (HI) after its chief Mohd Mushtaque Ahmed resigned midway in his tenure on Friday following a recent sport ministry’s order, directing him to demit the president’s office immediately which he was holding in violation of the 2011 sports code. Mushtaque, who was elected to the top post in October 2018, was serving his third straight term in the HI, without undergoing the mandatory cooling-off period of four years.According to the ministry’s notice to HI, it read: “Mushtaque Ahmed had earlier served as treasurer in HI from 2010-2014 and secretary general from 2014-2018. The instant term 2018-2022 of Mushtaque as president is his third consecutive term in violation of the sports code”.
The 2011 code restricts the tenure of a treasurer and secretary-general to two consecutive terms of four years followed by a cooling-off period of four years. Ahmed served as a treasurer and secretary general for two consecutive terms of four years each and didn’t opt for the mandatory cooling-off period thereafter, while agreeing to accept the HI’s president’s in his third term. The ministry’s letter, dated July 6, had directed the HI to advise Mushtaque to demit office and conduct fresh elections before September 30 for the 2018-2022 term.
HI’s Executive Board named Manipur’s Gyanendro Ningombam as the officiating president in Ahmed’s place.
“It’s with regret that I am writing to inform you and, through you to the Hockey India Executive Board, about my decision to resign from my position as president of Hockey India, effective immediately,” Mushtaque wrote in his resignation letter addressed to HI’s secretary general, Rajinder Singh.
“Due to my personal and family commitments, I am unable to fulfill the requirements and responsibilities of my position as the president. I am extremely proud and satisfied by my work that we have been able to accomplish at Hockey India and the strong position of both the sport and the national teams at the international arena. I believe it is the right time for me to make this crucial decision, so that a new president can come on board that will have the necessary time and energy to devote to this role,” he stated.
“It is obviously with a heavy heart that I make this decision, however I believe that this is in the best interest of the sport. I will of course continue to be actively involved in the promotion of the sport in Bihar and India and will always be available for any assistance to Hockey India and any of its stakeholders in the future,” he concluded his letter.
On Friday, the HI’s Executive Board held an Emergent Executive Board meeting in the national capital, where the resignation of Mushtaque was accepted. The EB under the rules and regulations of the HI constitution subsequently nominated and approved its senior vice president, Gyanendro Ningombam, as the new officiating president.
Ningombam has for several years been associated with Manipur Hockey and has been instrumental in supporting talented players and the development of the sport at the grassroots level. Ningombam has earlier served Manipur Hockey as its Chief Executive Officer from 2009 to 2014 pursuant to which he was elected as the vice president of Manipur Hockey from 2014 - 2018.