Hockey India's election will at last be held today with former captain Pargat Singh pitted against Vidya Stokes for the president's post.
Hockey India's election will at last be held today with former captain Pargat Singh pitted against Vidya Stokes for the president's post.
The election, previously scheduled July 30, was stayed by the Delhi and Bombay High Courts on two different petitions. It was the third time that HI elections were postponed. But HI moved the Supreme Court, which vacated the stay keeping in mind an International Hockey Federation warning that India could be debarred from participating in international events starting with the women's World Cup this month if elections were not held.
A detailed hearing on the case will take place on August 19 and the apex court has asked HI not to implement the outcome of the election until the final verdict is out. There was further trouble for HI yesterday as two Assam sports officials were booked by the Meghalaya Police in Shillong for impersonating as members of Hockey Meghalaya to vote in the election.
Raj Kakoti, treasurer of Assam Olympic Association, and Sumita Sinha have been booked for cheating and impersonation, police said.
Meanwhile, HI is also yet to reply to sports ministry's show cause notice. The ministry asked it to explain before the election as to why the government should not de-recognise it in the wake of the federation's declaration before Delhi High Court that it is a private body and would not follow the government guidelines, like an age limit, for the polls.
HI has fielded 83-year-old Stokes against Pargat.
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