The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has appointed former Indian men’s hockey team captain and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and Chile’s Camila Caram as co-chairs of the FIH Athletes Committee. This announcement was made by the FIH on March 27, 2024.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Camila Caram has been assigned as the co-chair and athlete committee representative on the executive board.
- PR Sreejesh, as the co-chair, will lead the planning and meetings along with Caram.
- Sreejesh, aged 35, was first elected as a member of the FIH Athletes Committee in 2017 and has now been appointed as co-chair for the first time.
FIH Athletes Committee: Bridging Players and Governing Body
- The FIH Athletes Committee comprises former and current hockey players.
- It acts as a link between the players and the international governing body for hockey.
- The committee makes recommendations to various FIH bodies, including the Executive Board, Committees, Advisory Panels, and others, for the development and betterment of hockey worldwide.
- It liaises with the Athletes’ Commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other sporting organizations to share information and research to develop the game of hockey.
PR Sreejesh: Hockey Star from Kerala
- PR Sreejesh was born into a family of farmers in Kizhakkambalam village, Ernakulam district of Kerala.
- He made his Indian debut at the 2006 South Asian Games in Sri Lanka.
- Sreejesh has represented India in three Summer Olympics.
- He was part of the Indian team that won gold at the 2014 Asian Games and bronze at the 2015 FIH Hockey World League Final.
- Sreejesh received the Arjuna Award in 2015 and the Padma Shri in 2017.
- He was appointed as the captain of the Indian hockey team in 2016.
FIH: The Governing Body of Hockey
- The Fédération Internationale de Hockey sur Gazon (FIH) was founded by Paul Léautey on January 7, 1924.
- In 1982, the International Federation of Women’s Hockey Associations merged with the FIH.
- After the merger, the FIH became the world governing body of men’s and women’s hockey.
- The FIH has 140 member countries.
- Its headquarters is located in Lausanne, Switzerland.
- The current FIH President is Tayyab Ikram.
The appointment of PR Sreejesh and Camila Caram as co-chairs of the FIH Athletes Committee is a significant development, ensuring the voices of hockey players are represented at the highest levels of the sport’s governing body.