After athletics, cricket and soccer, Indian hockey appears to be on track to get an ex-player as its chief.
Former nationwide staff captain Dilip Tirkey, one of many most-capped India internationals, has emerged as a frontrunner to grow to be the president of Hockey India. The 44-year-old player-turned-politician and administrator filed his nomination papers on Sunday for the Hockey India polls, which shall be held on October 1.
Tirkey is presently the president of the Odisha hockey affiliation and was eligible to contest the nationwide physique’s elections on that foundation. A state official mentioned Tirkey had the backing of a majority of associations and no different main candidate had filed a nomination by the point of the deadline (1 pm on Sunday). The candidatures shall be formally introduced on Monday.
Tirkey, too, was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India that he was assured of getting the requisite numbers to grow to be the brand new president of the federation. “I have been in talks with a lot of states. The entire North-East is with me. Bengal, Assam, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura all are backing me. Besides, I have been in talks with other states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and they have given a positive response. So, I am confident,” he instructed the information company.
Submitted my nomination for the put up of President, Hockey India with the blessings of all. I’m dedicated to take Indian Hockey to new heights. pic.twitter.com/hvYgtshogJ
— Dilip Kumar Tirkey (@DilipTirkey) September 18, 2022
Hockey India was ordered to conduct recent elections after a Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, in its order, famous that the posts of life president and life member have been unlawful and never in sync with the National Sports Code. It added that the put up of CEO within the managing committee, too, was unlawful whereas additional noting that the executive setup of Hockey India was ‘illegally constituted’.
Consequently, the court docket appointed a three-member Committee of Administrators to run the day-to-day affairs of Hockey India. The federation appealed the choice within the Supreme Court in August however the Bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and JB Pardiwala selected to not intrude with the Delhi High Court’s order, whereas asking the CoA to expedite the election course of to make sure easy conduct of the Men’s World Cup in January 2023.
Current development
Earlier this month, the All India Football Federation too needed to bear the same course of following an intervention from the court docket and it ended with player-turned-politician Kalyan Chaubey changing into the brand new president. Tirkey is now in competition to steer the hockey physique.
“He has the support of most of the members so, in my view, he will have no problem in becoming the next president,” mentioned Hockey Maharashtra chief Manoj Bhore, who is likely one of the voters within the election. “Dilip has been a distinguished player, has led the national team, and after his playing career, has done a lot for hockey in Odisha. He is the ideal person to lead Hockey India.”
The former defender, with greater than 400 appearances for India, joined Biju Janta Dal after his taking part in profession was over and was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha. He has additionally been concerned in operating hockey in Odisha, the state that has emerged because the nerve centre of world hockey within the final eight years.
Tirkey mentioned his focus shall be to work on the grassroots and likewise revive the game in areas the place it was as soon as thriving. “I would like to strengthen the grassroots programme. I will work towards identifying the reasons behind the decline of hockey in those states where it was popular and produced players, and take corrective steps and revive the game there. We will visit those places and work towards the development and promotion of hockey,” he was quoted as saying by PTI.
