Former Olympian Ashok blames Kalmadi for hockey mess

BHOPAL: Former Olympian Ashok Kumar has held IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi responsible for all the mess in Indian hockey and also for the postponement of the February 7 Hockey India election.

Ashok said that because Kalmadi was lobbying to get the HI top post, elections for the hockey body were being deferred repeatedly.

He also added that the ad-hoc committee should also be equally blamed for the postponement of the elections and also for the present condition of hockey in the country.

Few days back, former hockey captain and Olympian Pargat Singh had launched a scathing attack on Kalmadi, calling him a “sports mafia” who is trying to become the Hockey India chief by hook or crook.

Ashok, talking to reporters on Monday, praised Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for extending financial help to women hockey players and said the chief ministers of other states should also come forward to help hockey players.