Stokes not yet decided on contesting HI elections

SHIMLA - Himachal Pradesh Congress leader Vidya Stokes, who took over the charge of Hockey India (HI) as interim president till the organisational elections, said she has not yet decided whether to contest for the president’s post in the Feb 7 polls.

Stokes, the 82-year-old senior vice-president of HI, will act as president after Ashok Kumar Mattoo’s resignation from the post was accepted by the HI executive board Monday.

Stokes, who is leader of the opposition Congress in Himachal Pradesh, told IANS over phone from Delhi that she has not made up her mind yet to contest election for the HI president’s post.

“I am yet to make up my mind on whether to contest the election. If I am in a position to devote time to hockey, I will contest. I have a lot of other assignments in the state to look into,” she said.

“At present, we need a person who can spare full time for hockey with the Commonwealth Games and other events just round the corner,” she added.

On A.K. Mattoo’s decision to resign from the HI president’s post, she said: “Mattoo was hurt because of browbeating by a section of media and recent hockey rebellion.”

“We understand the problem of the players and genuinely want to help them out. Of course, financial crunch is a big hindrance in giving hockey players their dues.”