New Delhi : Ms. Vidya Stokes (83), a former player won the Hockey India chairman elections by a clear majority on Thursday, but the beaten candidate, a former captain and Olympian Pargat Singh, had the last laugh when the entire Hockey India Committee was sacked by the Ministry of Sports headed by Manohar Singh Gill, former CEC for mismanagement. Ms. Stokes was acting chief of HI when the AIHF was superceded by the govt. The 41-21result against Pargat notwithstanding; his hopes for better hockey administration in India are kept alive.
The election was prompted by Delhi High Court, but the sports Minister, knowing the national mood, kept a watch over HI. The Central Govt had imposed an age bar on contestants, which did not suit Ms. Stokes.
The HI office – bearers’ election had been postponed 4 times. Hockey as a game is also harmed by the fact that coaches (Kaushik) are under scrutiny for sexual harassment, even in Canada and China, apart from India itself. This year Ajaykumar Bansal is awarded Dronacharya for Hockey, as per a finalised list.