Tirkey promises to take Indian hockey at new heights

 By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR, Sept 26

THE election of former India captain Dilip Tirkey as the President of Hockey India has been the best possible thing to happen in the recent past for the game in India. Tirkey, a three-time Olympian, has become the first international player to head Indian hockey administration in the last 97 years of history in the country. The election to the president’s post as an unopposed candidate proves Tirkey’s popularity in the country. The two other contestants, Uttar Pradesh’s Rakesh Katiyal and Jharkhand’s Bhola Nath Singh, withdrew their nominations respecting Tirkey’s stature and trusting in his abilities.

However, Tirkey has a tough task at hand. He has promised to take Indian hockey at new heights. Another area he will have to give stress is at the grassroot level. India has a huge pool of budding players at sub-junior and junior levels. It will be up to his team to identify the right players and channel them in the right direction. He will have to put a system in place where the right player is groomed at the right time and in correct manner.

Tirkey is very much aware where the talent comes from in our country. It is the hinterlands where he will have to concentrate without neglecting the urban areas. He himself coming from a remote place like Sundergarh in Odisha, 44-year-old Tirkey might be well aware of tapping the talent from such areas all over the country, not only from Odisha or Jharkhand. It will be his team’s task to make sure that the game is developed in other regions of the country as well. Reviving old tournaments that had produced India material will also be in Tirkey’s mind. He will have to sit with all the stakeholders and prepare a blueprint to take the game to new heights.

Tirkey would be the fourth Indian sportsperson, who have represented the country, to head a sports federation. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is heading the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI). Former Indian goalkeeper Kalyan Choube was recently elected as the President of Indian Football Federation (AIFF). Another ex-Indian athlete Adille Sumariwalla is the 

chief of Indian Athletics Federation (AFI).

The calm, down to earth and disciplined character he is, Tirkey had been the flag-bearer of Indian hockey for more than a decade. He was the original wall of Indian defence helping Team India win many titles. After his retirement from the game in 2010, Tirkey joined politics (he is former BJD MP from Odisha) and sports administration (Chief of Odisha Hockey Federation) in Odisha. He was instrumental in promoting and popularising the game in Odisha further along with Chief Minister Navin Patnaik. The two joined hands and put Odisha, especially Bhubaneshwar, on the world hockey map by organising World Cup, FIH Pro Leagues and other tournaments. Not only organising tournaments in the best possible way, Odisha has been developed as the ‘Sports State’ with CM Patnaik giving 

thrust on building stadiums and providing infrastructure all over Odisha.

Tirkey rightly credited CM Patnaik for his election to President’s post. He recently had said that it is because of CM Patnaik’s love for sports that Odisha is able to 

organise such international level events. That also helped Tirkey in winning the hearts of all the other contestants who were fray.

The immediate biggest assignment for Tirkey will be the FIH World Cup in 2023 in Odisha. It will be the first big test of his administrative skills. Tirkey is not new to such big events but being at the helm and guiding all his men would test him for the first time. How successful he will be, will chart the way ahead for Indian hockey which has in the recent past seen an upward journey since the bronze medal by the men’s at Tokyo Olympics and a creditable fourth place finish by the women’s team. It is time for the former India defender to capitalise on that success.

He pedalled 20 kms in Sri Lanka to train for CWG

Shuttler Abeywickrama narrates ordeal during political, economic crisis in Island nation

By Paritosh Pramanik

NAGPUR, Sept 14, 2022

THE economic crisis followed by political upheaval in Sri Lanka has affected one and all and sports was no different. With protests and sky-rocketing prices of almost all commodities, life had been difficult for the commoners in the Island nation. Travel expenses touched the sky and it was difficult to get petrol, diesel. Serpentine queues were seen at petrol pumps with people waiting for days to get the fuel. Narrating harrowing and troublesome days, Sri Lankan shuttler Dumindu Abeywickrama said it was the toughest phase of his life where he had to pedal 20 kms for his badminton training.

The shuttler, who was part of the Sri Lankan team in the recently concluded Birmingham Commonwealth Games, is in the city for the Maha Metro International Badminton Challenge Nagpur 2022.

Drenched in sweat after winning his men’s singles qualifying round match against India’s Munawar Mohammed 21-16, 21-10, Abeywickrama said it was quite a difficult phase when his country was in turmoil. “Those were very difficult days. Now, things are getting normal but the last few months have been very hard. Before the Commonwealth Games, the Government asked us not to venture out of home and restrict training sessions. It was very difficult for all shuttlers as we had very few days left for the Birmingham Games,” narrated Abeywickrama.

“To top that, my Indonesian coach Jeffer Rosobin, too, returned to his country after the crisis. It was very difficult to train. I practised on my own for several days. He still coaches me but we discuss over phone only,” said Abeywickrama.

“I used to go for training at night. At times I had to pedal all the way to my club for practice as there was a shortage of fuel. The training centre was around 10 kms from my home in Colombo. It used to be a 20 kms ride daily,” added Abeywickrama, who lost to Indian ace Kidambi Srikanth in the prequarter-finals in Birmingham CWG.

Srikanth had defeated Abeywickrama 21-9, 21-12 to make quarters.

This was after Abeywickrama had won his opening round match against Samuel Cassar of Malta 21-12, 22-20.

The 19-year-old Sri Lankan said that there was very little help from his Government and he had to manage his own expenses.

“My father is an accountant and my mother is a lawyer. I have to fund all my expenses and hardly get anything from the Government. My maternal uncle, who is a marine engineer, helped me in getting my shoes and racquet before CWG. Badminton is a very expensive sport...my racquet alone costs Rs 60,000,” lamented Abeywickrama.

The final year commerce student feels that his Government is supporting only cricket and cricketers. “They support only cricket and cricketers. They care little for other sports. If all goes well I will shift to India. My father also wants me to shift to India so that I get ample opportunity in badminton here,” mentioned Abeywickrama who ranked No 2 in Sri Lanka.

On his India sojourn and Nagpur International tournament, Abeywickrama said he will take one match at a time. “I have won my first match. I will be playing my second game in the evening and hope to qualify for the main draw first. I just want to give my best in every match. After this tournament I will be playing at Raipur and then the Infosys Open at Karnataka. I hope to do well in India,” Abeywickrama signed off.

Qureshi’s appointment as Hockey Mah VP challenged

Principal Correspondent

Aug 31, 2022

THE appointment of Nagpur District Unified Hockey Association (NDUHA) Secretary Parvez Qureshi as one of the Vice-Presidents of Hockey Maharashtra has been challenged by Mumbai Hockey Association Secretary Ranvir Singh, terming it as illegal.

The elections to Hockey Maharashtra is due on September 8 and according to reports, the entire body has been elected unopposed.

According to a letter to Returning Officers Bhagwantrao Gaikwad, Retired District Judge and Sharad Madaka, Retired Asstt Charity Commissioner, Hockey Maharashtra, Ranvir Singh objected to the entire election process and claimed to have violated the conditions laid down by Ministry of Youth and Sports, Government of India, National Sports Development Code of India and Memorandum of Association, Hockey Maharashtra.

Ranvir asked the returning officers to verify as to in which meeting it was passed to grant affiliation (to NDUHA) with agenda. He also claimed that NDUHA has not completed five years of membership as per article 15 of Memorandum of Association of Hockey Maharashtra as approved by Asst Charity Commissioner, Alibag, hence cannot contest election. Terming the entire election process of Hockey Maharashtra, as illegal, Ranvir Singh asked the returning officers to declare the election illegal. “It is prima facie case of fraud, cheating, suppressing of facts, misleading and misguiding you both the returning officers, and (I) request you both to take cognisance and grant urgent hearing immediately to stop the election process and declare it as invalid, null and void in the interest of natural justice failing to which I shall be constrained to take up such action against you both before the Honourable Bombay High Court at your risk and consequences which please note,” wrote Singh.

Singh submitted detailed objection on election of 15 out of 17 members who are elected unopposed.

 

Nagpur’s Qureshi is Hockey Maharashtra Vice-President

Principal Correspondent

Aug 29, 2022

IN A positive development for hockey in the city, Nagpur District Unified Hockey Association’s (NDUHA) Parvez Qureshi has been elected as one of the vice-presidents of Hockey Maharashtra during the elections held on Sunday.

The 17-member State body, which will be led by Krishna Prakash from Thane, was elected unopposed during a meeting held in Pune. Qureshi is Secretary, NDUHA.

Former secretary Manoj Bhore has been elected as the Senior Vice-President while Manish Anand (Pune) has been elected as the secretary.

It might be termed as positive news for hockey players of Nagpur as they will now be able to take part in the State championships of Hockey Maharashtra.

After Hockey India disaffiliated Vidarbha Hockey Association citing Indian Olympic Association’s One-State-One-Unit diktat, hockey teams from Vidarbha were unable to take part in the national championship. Hockey Maharashtra had barred teams affiliated with VHA from participating in the state level competitions.

But Nagpur District Unified Hockey Association applied for affiliation with Hockey Maharashtra immediately after VHA’s disaffiliation. A few other districts from Vidarbha too joined Hockey Maharashtra. Four districts from Vidarbha found place in the new 17-member Hockey Maharashtra body. Apart from Qureshi (Nagpur), the others include Manisha Akre (Yavatmal), Vaishali Saimon (Bhandara) and Poonam Durge (Gondia).

The new Hockey Maharashtra Body: President: Krishna Prakash (Thane); Senior Vice President: Manoj Bhore (Pune); Vice-Presidents: Parvez Qureshi (Nagpur), Dhananjay Mahadik (Mumbai City), Manisha Akre (Yavatmal), Dr Anita Kolhe (Jalgaon); Secretary: Manish Anand (Pune), Joint Secretaries: Pankaj Bharashakale (Aurangabad), Adrian D’Souza (Mumbai Suburbs), Vaishali Saimon (Bhandara), Surabhi Bhosale (Osmanabad); Treasurer: Kailash Sonar (Raigad); Executive Members: Ajij Sayyed (Nashik), Zarar Qureshi (Solapur), Helen Mary (Mumbai City), Surekha Patil (Kolhapur), Poonam Durge (Gondia).