AK Mattoo resigns as Hockey India President

New Delhi:

Deeply hurt by the allegation made against him during the recent hockey crisis, A K Mattoo has resigned as the Hockey India President and also from all the other administrative posts in various sport bodies.

Mattoo has sent in his resignation to the Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi and has made up his mind to "take retirement from sports administration".

"I have submitted my resignation to Kalmadi and I now want to take retirement from sports administration. I have served for 40 years and it has been long and fruitful innings," Matoo said.

Apart from being Hockey India President, Mattoo is also the treasurer of the IOA and the Organising Commitee of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Asked whether he would reconsider his decision if Kalmadi ask him to do so, he said, "No, I have made up my mind and don't want to get into all these again. I have enjoyed my stint as a sports administrator all these years."

Mattoo, who is known for his integrity and uprightness, admitted that the allegation leveled against him by the striking hockey players and some other officials and the manner in which the crisis was projected left him deeply hurt.

Asked whether that was the reason why he decided to quit, Mattoo said, "Well, that is one of the reasons. Certainly it did play a role in my decision."