JALANDHAR: Tracer Shoes owner Nitin Kohli has replaced former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal as president of Hockey Punjab.
At a meeting held Wednesday, it was decided to renominate former India captain and MLA from Jalandhar Cantt Pargat Singh as the general secretary of the body, according to a Tribune report.
Badal’s brother-in-law and former minister Bikram Majithia has also been removed from the post of senior vice-president, with the previous body being dissolved. This is being seen as an attempt by Singh to assert his might and that of the Congress in the sports body, particularly after his suspension from the Shiromani Akali Dal last year.
Singh told The Tribune, "We will announce the remaining office-bearers of the new body in a day or so. I intend to make the body apolitical and have only eminent sportspersons on board. Of course, there will be three-four businessmen in the team so that funds keep flowing."
The report says that the previous governing body of Hockey Punjab, that was formed after merging Punjab Hockey Association (men), Punjab Hockey Association (women), Pepsu Hockey Association (men) and Pepsu Hockey Association (women) in 2009, failed to meet for elections for nearly eight years.
It was around that time that Badal, as Punjab Sports Minister, had picked Pargat Singh, the then director sports, as its general secretary, the report adds.
Picture courtesy: Indian Express
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