Narinder Batra has become the first Indian to be elected president of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). He was voted to the top post by an overwhelming margin on the penultimate day of the 45th FIH Congress in Dubai on Saturday.
Batra, who is president of Hockey India, defeated David Balbirnie (Ireland) and Ken Read (Australia). He got 68 votes against 29 for Balbirnie and 13 for Read. The voting was conducted via secret ballot through an electronic voting system.
The Indian succeeds Spain's Leandro Negre, the FIH chief since 2008. He is also the first non-European and the first Asian to be elected to the post.
Batra, 59, had become president of Hockey India in October 2014 after being its secretary.