Mattoo’s resignation accepted, Stokes take over
Vidya Stokes, senior vice-president of Hockey India (HI), has replaced Ashok Kumar Mattoo, who stood down as HI president on Sunday.
“Mr Mattoo couldn’t keep working as he isn’t well and doesn’t want to continue anymore. This has nothing to do with issues connected to Hockey India,” Stokes said.
Mattoo’s resignation was accepted at HI’s executive meeting on Monday and Stokes will continue as president till elections are held on February 7.
“We tried to convince him to continue but he did not agree, so the executive committee accepted his resignation,” the new president said.
“We cannot explain why he resigned. He might have been hurt, but he has his own reasons,” she explained.
Mattoo had cited “personal allegations” as the reason, after being embroiled in the players’ rebellion. He sent in his resignation to Indian Olympic Association president, Suresh Kalmadi, two days ago, saying he had made up his mind to “take retirement from sports administration”.
Kalmadi, chairman of the Organising Committee (OC) for the Commonwealth Games 2010, also accepted Mattoo’s resignation as OC treasurer. “It is with great reluctance and after consulting my senior colleagues I have decided to accept Mattoo’s resignation,” he said. “We tried hard to convince him to stay on but he has made up his mind,” Kalmadi said.
The OC chief said Mattoo’s valuable inputs during the home stretch of the Commonwealth Games preparation would be missed.
Anil Khanna, secretary-general of the All-India Tennis Association, will take over the treasurer’s post.