Carvalho & Co sweep polls but Kehar stays

Age Correspondent

Mumbai

June 30: The Joaquim Carvalho-led faction swept the polls of the Mumbai Hockey Association here on Tuesday. The group, however, could not oust the incumbent secretary Cdr Kehar Singh, who beat Olympian Gurbux Singh by a margin of 61 votes to retain his post in the elections held after five years.

Carvalho and group won 13 out of the 14 posts at the much-hyped elections here. The lone reverse for the group came when ruling group leader Kehar Singh retained the secretary’s post thumping 1968 Mexico Games team member Gurbux 130-69 for the all-important post.

Current president Manga Singh Bakshi was unopposed, while Phulel Singh Sujlana and Gulabrao Pol were elected as vice-presidents.

Said Carvalho, “According to me it is not a complete victory because the way Gurbux was ousted wasn’t good. We are waiting for the president to call the first meeting to start work as soon as possible for the growth of the game.”