Tayyab Ikram re-elected as FIH President until 2032

MUSCAT: Tayyab Ikram was on Saturday re-elected as FIH President at the 49th Statutory Congress of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), held in Muscat.

Ikram, the sole candidate, was elected by acclamation and will lead the FIH for two consecutive terms until 2032.

Upon his re-election, Ikram expressed deep gratitude. He said: “My heart is full of gratitude for the trust you’ve placed in me. Many of you have told me that a lot has been achieved in the last 2 years, and that FIH is now much closer to you. However, today, I feel that this is my first day. You’ve given me a new start! I will continue this journey. It will be a time of engagement, a time of empowerment. Athletes are, and will remain, my first priority. They need to be at the centre of everything FIH does.”

 As an additional sign confirming the steady growth of hockey worldwide, the congress approved the application of six new members: Bahrain, Chad, Curacao, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan and Senegal. This brings the overall number of FIH members to 146.

In his president’s report, Ikram tackled numerous key strategic priorities, such as the FIH empowerment and engagement strategy, athletes’ welfare, hockey development or events.

Danae Andrada, Alberto Daniel Budeisky and Erik Cornelissen were re-elected and Katrin Kauschke elected as ordinary members of the FIH Executive Board. Before the election, Hazel Kennedy and Deon James Morgan withdrew their candidature.

The FIH Congress welcomed delegates from 118 nations. Ikram inaugurated the congress with an opening address, followed by Dr. Marwan bin Juma Al Juma, Chairman of the Oman Hockey Association, who emphasised Oman’s pride in hosting the congress.

Al Juma said, “It is a great

honour to welcome you all to Oman for this significant event. We extend our warmest greetings to the FIH president and thank the FIH for selecting Oman to host this esteemed gathering.”

Al Juma praised FIH’s dedication to advancing hockey globally. “We deeply value FIH’s commitment to advancing hockey worldwide. Your vision and initiatives inspire players, coaches, and fans alike, helping our beloved sport grow. We are proud to partner with FIH in its mission and remain committed to the sport’s development.”