India can now hope to play a major role in development of hockey globally as the Secretary General of the Indian Hockey Federation, K Jothikumaran, has been appointed in the Development Council of the game's world governing body, FIH.

Jothikumaran has been appointed as a member in the Council, which is one of the principal arms of the International Hockey Federation, which looks into the game at grassroot level and is responsible for its subsequent global development, IHF said in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Jothikumaran, who is the first Indian to make it to the post, said his endeavour would be to make the game more popular.

"I am very pleased and I would be looking to help the game not only in India but all over the world," Jothikumaran said.

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