India's Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sport granted the body National Sports Federation (NSF) status meaning it is accountable for the overall management, direction, control, regulation, promotion and development of hockey for both men and women.

Narinder Batra, secretary general of Hockey India, spoke of the organisation's "moment of pride" following the announcement.

"Our endeavour will always be to make hockey the number one sport in the country and we aim motivate the Indian team to achieve feats which Indians will remember and talk about when the history of hockey is being discussed," he added.

"We will continue our effort in that direction until the time we do not achieve what we set out to do.

"I earnestly thank the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports for recognising the efforts that we have been putting in the last few years and giving us the recognition that we deserve."

To gain the status, Hockey India needed be recognised by both the sport's world governing body - the International Hockey Federation (FIH) - and the National Olympic Committee - the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), which both, as well as the Asian Hockey Federation, have done so since 2009.

India's men have qualified for the 2014 Hockey World Cup ©AFP/Getty Images


Hockey India has enjoyed considerable success in recent months.

It was awarded the hosting rights for the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup in November, but before that showpiece tournament it will stage the 2014 Men's Hockey Champions Trophy, the 2015 and 2017 Men's World League Final and the 2016 Junior Men's World Cup.

Meanwhile, on the field, the men's squad qualified for the 2014 Hockey World Cup and have played in two editions of the Hockey India League, which FIH President Leandro Negre praised as "a new milestone for the future of Indian hockey".

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