Pargat ‘hurt’ players did not support him
BANGALORE: Pargat Singh has accepted the Hockey India verdict with grace. But he is hurt that the persons who he counted on the most – former players – let him down.
“What came as a big blow to me is the fact that players did not vote for me in the election. It sends the wrong signals because I have said that I am fighting for the players and the game.”
Pargat insisted he was keen on revamping the system and raise hockey’s profile but doubted whether he would be able to work with the current office-bearers.
When pointed out that Hockey India secretary general Narendra Batra had said he would be happy to include Pargat in the game’s administration, the former India captain said: “Morally, I don’t think I will be able to gel with them. These people don’t think about the welfare of the game. However, I will continue to work for hockey in my personal capacity and as Hockey Punjab chief.”
Pargat also indicated that the whole electoral set-up favoured the existing office-bearers. “The court cases around the country, the messy Meghalaya-Assam affair and the fact that Olympic association officials dominated the elections went against me. Were people who work for hockey given a fair