FIH congress re-elects Tayyab Ikram as president until 2032

MUSCAT: The 49th International Hockey Federation (FIH) Statutory Congress, which concluded in Muscat on Saturday, re-elected Tayyab Ikram, the sole candidate, as the FIH President by acclamation for two terms until 2032. Nine executive board members were also elected by the assembly general members, including Seif Ahmed, Alberto 'Coco' Budeisky, Marcos Hofmann, Cameron Vale, Danae Andrada, Hiroya Anzai, Erik Cornelissen, Maureen Craig-Rousseau, Elizabeth Safoa King, Piotr Wilkonski, Camila Caram, and Katrin Kauschke.

During the first FIH Executive Board meeting, two vice-presidents will be elected among the members.

“I am deeply grateful for the tremendous support you have shown for my candidacy to lead global hockey for another two terms until 2032. It is a true honour to embrace this responsibility. Together, we have accomplished many milestones, and yet there is still much more ahead for us to achieve in the near future. Our progress reflects the stability and unity of our beloved and historic sport. As we look to the future, I want to reassure you that FIH will keep the growth and development in all the national associations, besides the continental federations, at the forefront of our mission,” Ikram said.

FIH congress re-elects Tayyab Ikram as president until 2032

Hockey leaders representing 118 different countries attended the FIH Congress in Muscat. The congress began with welcoming remarks from FIH President Ikram, followed by another welcoming note from Dr Marwan bin Juma al Juma, Chairman of the Oman Hockey Association (OHA).

“It is a great honour to welcome each one of you to Oman as we host the FIH Congress this year, marking a significant milestone aligned with the 100th anniversary of our hockey journey. We extend our warmest greetings to the President of the FIH and express our sincere gratitude for choosing Oman to host this esteemed gathering,” he said.

“We deeply appreciate the continuous efforts and commitment of the FIH toward the development and growth of hockey worldwide. Your vision and initiatives have been instrumental in driving this beloved sport forward, inspiring players, coaches, and fans alike to reach new heights,” he added.

“Our heartfelt thanks also go to all the national associations present here today. Your innovative ideas, contributions, and initiatives have significantly enriched the hockey community and have been vital in pushing the boundaries of the sport. Oman Hockey is proud to stand with you in our shared mission and remains fully committed to supporting the development of hockey to reach the levels we aspire to achieve,” Dr Marwan said.

Also, Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, congratulated FIH on the 100-year anniversary. He praised the FIH’s efforts and achievements, highlighting the significant contributions of President Ikram in advancing the sport. He commended the active participation of hockey athletes in the recent Olympic Games held in Paris and wished continued success for hockey in upcoming international events.

FIH congress re-elects Tayyab Ikram as president until 2032

The agenda included a presentation on the comprehensive FIH presidential report, a revision of the financial reports, and voting on the approval of audited accounts and formal discharge of the previous Executive Board. During the congress, the general assembly members approved countries to join FIH as new members, including Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan, Iraq, and Senegal, among others.

The FIH President delivered special awards to different representatives of the national hockey associations, including Shakir Munir from the Oman Hockey Association for his outstanding contribution in arranging the FIH Congress.

Kyrgyzstan Hockey Association Chairman Omorkanov affirmed that this day is considered an important day.

“We are very delighted with the approval of our FIH membership. This is a historic moment not only for hockey lovers but also for the general sports in our country.”

“We are gearing up to host many events in the following year, including the Asian Central Hockey Championship. This event will host 16 countries and will take place next year. We are looking forward to welcoming those teams to our country to vie for the title of the championship,” he added.