Hockey India congratulates Narinder Batra on becoming FIH president

DUBAI: Hockey India today congratulated its president Narinder Batra, who has been elected as the new President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) at the 45th FIH Congress in Dubai today.

Batra, who was an Executive Board Member of FIH as well as the Vice-President of the Asian Hockey Federation, will replace outgoing FIH President Leandro Negre, for a four-year term at the helm.

The win was basis a largely unanimous decision, Dr Batra secured 68 votes out of 118 to edge past tough opponents in Australia's Ken Read and Ireland's David Balbirnie, the two other candidates for the FIH Presidency at the Congress.

This is the first time an Indian has been elected to head a global sports governing body of an Olympic sport. Batra will also be the first Indian to take on the role as FIH Chief.