Marrakesh (Morocco), Nov 2 (IANS): Newly elected Hockey India (HI) president Narinder Batra was elected to the executive board of International Hockey Federation (FIH) at its two-day Ordinary Congress, which was titled 'Hockey Revolution Congress' and concluded here Sunday.

The 44th Congress welcomed five new national associations from three continents. From Africa - Burundi, Cameroon and Sierra Leone all became sole governing member national associations. Vietnam joined from Asia and Haïti joined from Pan-America. FIH now has 132 national associations.

Voting for ordinary members of the FIH executive board also took place for the positions of two female members, one male member and two open positions. Of the two open positions, one is for the duration of two years only, to replace H.R.H. Prince Abdullah Shah following his appointment as the president of the Asian Hockey Federation. He thereby automatically has a position on the board.

The voting for the new executive board members began with the female vote. Maureen Craig-Rousseau from Trinidad and Tobago was elected and Pamela Stuper from the US was re-elected to the board. The male place went to Batra. The two open positions saw the re-election of Marc Coudron from Belgium and Qasim Zia from Pakistan.

“I am delighted that we have welcomed new National Associations to the FIH family. The addition of these new members from all over the world, supports our new ambition, goals and strategy and ultimately, will help to raise the global status and popularity of hockey," said FIH president Leandro Negre.

"My congratulations to the new executive board members and thanks to the members stepping down for their tireless effort and dedication. I am looking forward to the next two years of my tenure as FIH President, as we create a Hockey Revolution," he added.