Pargat to vie for Hockey India president’s post

Former India captain and Hockey Punjab secretary Pargat Singh today announced his candidature for the post of Hockey India president and said he was confident of his victory in the much-awaited polls of the national federation to be held here on July 28.

Pargat will be contesting against interim president of Hockey India Vidaya Stokes, who was also the chief of the Indian Women’s Hockey Federation.

“Yes, I will be contesting for the post of Hockey India president and I am pretty confident that I will win,” Pargat said.

“You can win only if you play the game, by sitting outside you cannot think of victory,” he said.

Pargat will file his nomination tomorrow before Returning Officer Justice RC Chopra.

The former India full back said he decided to contest the elections because he felt he can make a difference and improve the state of the national game, which is running without a democratically-elected set-up since 2008.

“Hockey has given so much to me and now it is my turn to give back my share to the game. I feel pity to see the present condition of hockey in India. Now the game is in doldrums,” Pargat said.

Hockey India had last month ratified the affiliations of 33 units, including four institutional boards, during its Special General Meeting. Earlier this week, Hockey India received a no-objection certificate from the Sports Ministry. Hockey India polls had been postponed thrice in the past because of various reasons, which had even irked the International Hockey Federation. — PTI