International Hockey Federation (FIH) chief Narinder Batra, just a day after being elected as the President of the Indian Olympic Association, has declared his wish to bid for the 2032 Olympics in India. In 2010, India hosted the Commonwealth Games and that remains the biggest multi-sport event held in this country. Batra, who prevailed 142-13 over former All India Tennis Association president Anil Khanna in the election said, “I want India to bid for big events once again, such as the 2026 Commonwealth Games, 2030 Asian Games and the 2032 Olympics. It is my personal opinion as of now, and I have to gauge what the other members of the IOA and the government think about this matter.”
However, about sporting relations with Pakistan, Batra said, “As far as international multilateral events, organised by the international federations are concerned, we have to play against Pakistan. But I think it is not possible to play them in bilateral events unless the relation between the two countries improve. Moreover, their behaviour will have to improve.”
Batra further said that the priority would be to improve India’s medals tally in major international events including the Olympic Games.
Though Batra has been selected but his appointment, for a four-year period is subject to the final verdict of the Delhi High Court in a case challenging the legality of the election. This is because Batra is also the president of the International Hockey Federation and was not part of the IOA Executive Council. Thus he was not eligible to stand for the post, before a constitutional amendment allowed him to do so.
