New Delhi: Hockey India, the apex body governing the sport in India, nominated former president Vidya Stokes as the Life President in the just concluded 5th Hockey India Congress 2015 in New Delhi on Monday. Stokes, who currently serves as the Irrigation and Public Health Minister of Himachal Pradesh, has been nominated for the post in accordance to rule 5.14 of the Hockey India constitution. According to the Hockey India constitution the Life President (only one post) will be an honorary post and will not have any powers and will be of an advisory nature. The Life President will be an invitee to all the Executive Board and Congress meetings.

Commenting on the development Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra, President Hockey India, said, “Stokes’ contribution to Indian hockey has been phenomenal, and we all have been seeing this for many years now. It was obvious that no one else but her would do justice to the role of Life President with Hockey India. Her administrative skills are known to all and I am glad that we have nominated her for the post of Life President in the 5th Hockey India Congress today.”

A member of the Indian National Congress from 1970 Vidya Stokes has been involved with Hockey for a very long time. She has served as the President of the now defunct Indian Women’s Hockey Association in the years 1984, 1988, 1995 and 2003. She currently serves as the President of Hockey Himachal apart from her role in the State government as the Irrigation and Public Health minister. Stokes was earlier elected as President Hockey India in 2009.