Tirkey latest ex-player in top job after becoming Hockey India president
Tirkey latest ex-player in top job after becoming Hockey India president: A trio of Indian cricketers—Sourav Ganguly, Kalyan Chaubey, and now Dilip Tirkey.
Since India’s independence, politicians and bureaucrats have controlled the country’s three most popular team sports. The domestic governing bodies of cricket, football, and hockey will all be led by former players for the first time ever.
The organization didn’t even have to organize elections; on Friday, former India captain Tirkey took over as the new president of Hockey India.
Tirkey, who had been one of three presidential candidates before Rakesh Katiyal of Uttar Pradesh and Bhola Nath Singh of Jharkhand withdrew their bids on Friday, promised to bring Indian hockey to “new heights.
If the number of candidates is less than or equal to the number of open positions, those candidates will be declared unopposed by Hockey India’s election procedures.
Bhola Nath was elected as the new secretary-general, and he and Tirkey were part of an unchallenged committee that would run the show until 2026.
Journey
Tirkey’s journey from a timid adolescent to a cool, collected defender, then to India’s captaincy, and finally to politics and sports administration after his retirement is miraculous.
The fact that an international player has never served as president in India’s 97-year history of organized hockey administration gives his election added weight.
Having this knowledge has helped me appreciate the significance of being elected president.
In an interview with The Indian Express published on Friday, Tirkey, a former member of parliament for the BJD and current head of the Odisha Hockey Federation, expressed confidence in his abilities.
The 44-year-election old’s demonstrates Odisha’s rising prominence in the sport. Since 2014, the coastal state has served as the game’s epicenter on both the Indian and international stages.
Odisha, one of the cradles of Indian hockey, is a major financial supporter of the national teams, a major sponsor of international hockey, and a regular host of major international events in Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium over the past eight years.
With Tirkey at the helm, Odisha’s prominence in Indian hockey will grow, particularly in light of the upcoming World Cup, which the cities of Bhubaneswar and Rourkela will co-host.
Tirkey said that Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s election was due to his ‘service to hockey. Many people have witnessed the state’s efforts in the last few years to promote hockey, from building a world-class stadium to organizing tournaments.
The 45-year-old player stated, “I feel like everything has worked in my favor because Odisha has delivered in Indian hockey.”
Road ahead
Tirkey’s voice reverberates with excitement, and his mind is racing with possibilities. Tirkey’s primary concerns will be the upcoming World Cup (January 13th–29th, 2023), but his issues extend far beyond that time.
Tirkey assumes leadership of Indian hockey during a pivotal juncture. Under Australian coach Graham Reid, the men’s squad has shown signs of life after years of decline, and the women, despite their inconsistency, have punched above their weight in the last year and a half.
In terms of the senior national teams, he noted that goaltending and drag-flicking might use some work. Do we have enough quality players to fill these roles after PR Sreejesh or Harmanpreet Singh? “These are two very essential roles in modern hockey.
If we want to be successful, we need to find places where we can make changes like these and fill in the gaps.
But he has bigger fish to fry than the national team.
We have a large number of junior and intermediate players. The task is to locate talented hockey players, prioritize quality over quantity, instruct them effectively, and pave the way for a successful professional career. It’s important to have a structure from the youth team up to the national squad.
Statement
In addition, Tirkey emphasized the importance of bringing hockey back to some of its historical strongholds, or “belts,” that have fallen off the map.
One method to increase interest in the sport is for him to make sure that international matches are held in multiple cities across India rather than only Odisha, as has been the case in recent years.
How Tirkey acts and delivers will be closely watched in a field where some recent presidents have been accused of being ineffective rubber stamps.
There are presently four major federations in India led by ex-athletes (Ganguly, Chaubey, Tirkey, and Athletics Federation of India president Adille Sumariwalla).
“I was surprised to learn that many athletes serve as leaders in major federations,” Tirkey added. The event occurred, though. The time for rest is over; you must work now.
Read More: Ex-India skipper Tirkey favorite to become hockey federation president