Tayyab Ikram Re-Elected: FIH's New Era of Empowerment and Growth

Tayyab Ikram, re-elected as FIH President, envisions a new era focused on athlete engagement and empowerment. The 49th FIH Congress in Muscat also announced new executive board members and welcomed six countries as FIH members, marking a strategic growth phase in hockey's global landscape.

Tayyab Ikram has been re-elected as the President of the International Hockey Federation (FIH) during the 49th FIH Congress held in Muscat. In his victory speech, Ikram expressed heartfelt gratitude for the renewed trust and highlighted the progress made in the past two years, vowing to prioritize athletes and continue driving engagement and empowerment.

The Congress also re-elected Danae Andrada (Uruguay), Alberto Daniel Budeisky (Argentina), and Erik Cornelissen (Netherlands), while welcoming Katrin Kauschke (Germany) as a new Ordinary Member of the FIH Executive Board. Hazel Kennedy (Zambia) and Deon James Morgan (South Africa) withdrew their candidacies before the election. The session marked a significant growth milestone with the acceptance of six new member nations, including Bahrain, Chad, Curacao, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, and Senegal, bringing FIH membership to 146.

In his report, President Ikram detailed FIH's strategic priorities, including its empowerment and engagement strategy, and significant strides in governance, events, and commercial partnerships. Notably, the expansion of the Junior World Cup, the introduction of new competitions, and successful social media engagement during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games highlight these achievements. Sustainability efforts were acknowledged with the 2024 IOC Climate Action Award, complemented by over USD 2 million in Olympic Solidarity projects. A new global mental health project for athletes and resources on FIH.hockey were also announced.

(With inputs from agencies.)