Vidya Stokes resigns as HI president

Pratibha Chauhan

Vidya Stokes, the grand old lady of Indian Hockey, who upset former captain Pargat Singh by defeating him in the elections to become chief of Hockey India at the age of 83, today bid goodbye to her association with the game she has been connected for the last three decades.

“Due to my political compulsions I have decided to step down as it is getting increasing difficult for me to devote sufficient time to the game,” she said, immediately after tendering her resignation from the post of President, Hockey India to Leandro, President of the Federation of International Hockey.

Incidentally Stokes is the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Himachal and has won seven assembly elections. She has been the state party chief in the past. She said that she had authorized the Secretary General of the body to discharge all duties till arrangements are made by Hockey India Executive and ratified by the General Council.

She said that she was keen to step down even earlier but continued till the completion of the Commonwealth Games. “Not that anyone has asked me to resign but I myself feel guilty when I am unable to take out time for the game,” she said. She said that she would have had to take out atleast 20 days for the Asian Games in China as she was jury member and later she would have had to travel to Europe for the international body meet.

Even though there has been a major controversy over the age bar for the post of President, Hockey India, she dismisses all such reports. “There was no such controversy and even the Supreme Court ruled that the elections were valid,” she said.

Stokes who first became the Secretary of All India Women’s Hockey Association in 1977 has been associated with the game even after the merger of the Women and men’s hockey associations. She held the post of President of the All India Women’s Hockey Association in 1984, 1994 and 1998. She also remained the Chairperson and President of India Hockey Federation.