New Delhi, July 13 : Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) Tuesday announced a national selection panel and is now in direct confrontation with Hockey India (HI) on the selection of the Indian national team.

IHF chief K.P.S Gill told IANS that from now on they will select the national team.

"We have formed a selection panel and from now on we will be selecting the national team," Gill said.

Meanwhile, the sports ministry Tuesday gave the green signal to HI to go ahead with the elections July 28. After the Delhi High Court reinstated the IHF, the sports ministry had asked HI not to hold the elections and sought advice from the law ministry on the issue.

However, the ministry gave its clearance Tuesday and appointed S. K. Mendiratta as the observer.

Gill said this will not hamper the functioning of the IHF, which is conducting the Senior National Men's Hockey Championship in Bhopal.

"We are not affected by their decision to hold the election. The government is not above the High Court," Gill said.

Asked whether IHF has sought the permission of International Hockey Federation (FIH) which recognise ad-hoc HI, Gill said: "We have written to FIH after the High Court order. We are waiting for their response."

HI secretary general Narinder Batra maintained that IHF has long been derecognised by FIH.

"We are not concerned at what they are doing. They have been derecognised by the FIH in 2000. They are not a unified body which is a pre-requisite for getting the recognition of the international federation."

IHF's selection panel comprise Dilip Tirkey, Syed Ali, Edward Aloysius, Baljeet Singh Dhillon and Abdul Gaffoor. (IANS)