Adding to India's growing stature on world hockey, national men's team captain P.R. Sreejesh was on Wednesday appointed to the Athletes Committee of the International Hockey Federation, becoming the first Indian to do so. He is also the only currently active player on the committee.
The decision was confirmed late on Tuesday night by the FIH Executive Board and joins the likes of recently-retired German legend Moritz Fuerste and Australian Liam de Young. Sreejesh has been appointed following the vacancy created after former chairman, Germany's Michael Green was elected to the FIH Executive Board in November 2016.
“It's a great honour for me to be a part of this committee along with other legends like Fuerste. It's something special to be the first Indian to do so. When you are the first to do something, you kind of become part of a history that cannot be changed by anyone,” Sreejesh told Sportstar after the appointment. Sardar Singh had previously competed for election to the committee in 2014 but lost to Fuerste and De Young.
“This gives me more opportunities to talk to the players from across the world and in India also and I will get to know more about the issues they might be facing. My attempts would be to take as much suggestions as possible to develop the game for the better and make it more popular,” he added.
The FIH Athletes’ Committee is made up of current and former hockey players acting as a liaison between the FIH and the athletes and ensure a voice for the players in the decision making process. It includes eight ordinary members — four each elected and appointed — besides the chairperson with no less than three men and women each. South African Marsha Cox and England's Annie Panter are co-chairs of the committee at the moment. Other members include Canadian Scott Sandison, Iran's Sanaz Heidari and Beth Smith of New Zealand.
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