So, the ‘elections’ are over. Player power, if at all it was ever there in India, loses to political power, as triple Olympian Pargat Singh goes down to 83-year young Vidhya Stokes in the farce called Hockey India process — where for the first time the candidates chose the electorate!
However, now we can elevate ourselves to describe Batra and party from being described as self-appointed to self-elected!!
A player knows how to win a match. A politician knows how to win an election. So was it today.
What is the implication of the election, given the legal tangles attached with it, is too early to predict.
But one thing is certain. The happiest of the situation will undoubtedly be the FIH.
Hockey India is their brainchild, is in their interest, it was delivered at their insistence and idea, now it survives and tries to live forever at their mercy.
So, as the FIH did in the context of Delhi World Cup, it can organize as many events as they want on Indian turfs, walk away with the benefits — with no questions ever asked.
Hockey India has openly and boldly declared it is a private body.
If that is so, why we, who are interested in hockey, should take interest in the Hockey India Private Ltd election?
The last word on the matter is not said.
For record, Pargat got 21 votes compared to 41 by Vidhya Stokes in today’s HI Pvt Ltd presidential election, and Narindra Batra elected as Secretary General.
5 Comments
Although, Mr. Pargat Singh was the most qualified person for the post but I feel, many of us, even myself, got our expectations totally wrong in this whole elections.
It is unreasonable to expect that power hungry people would have granted affiliation to people who were against them. As the article rightly points out, electorate has been chosen (read it: carefully chosen) by candidates themselves.
Keeping that in mind, Mr. Pargat Singh should be thankful that Hockey Punjab was granted affiliation and he was allowed to contest unlike many other deserving people who couldn’t even make it to the electorate.
It’s sad, but it’s true.
It’s time that players and coaches should get involved with their respective federations and demand for broadening of the eligible electorate at the state and national level. It shouldn’t be not just the Secy and the President who can vote. Or else these days are here to stay.
we had pinned high hopes on this election…. or on Mr Pargat Singh.
BUt, it has again been proven that players will be kept out of administration….. to stop the game from improvement.
KPS GILL was the first to ruin it, now it is the turn of another stooges.
pl politicians….keep away….there is not enough money here.
kalmadi n party managed it again.
But, Pargat u didnt lose today……. Hockey did.
very well said, yes pargat didnot lose, hockey did, agreed u
just heard govt did something to undo the damage. welcome. president or secretary of every federation should be a player, anybody listening?
election over, but problem begins!!!. it is now looks like a co-operative society election