Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey. File
| Picture Credit score: The Hindu
The tussle inside Hockey India exhibits no signal of resolving any time quickly.
Whilst a few of the prime brass of the federation was current in Chandigarh for the formal announcement of the lads’s Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) on Monday, president Dilip Tirkey was assembly Sports activities Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and different senior authorities officers together with HIL franchises in New Delhi.
Sources mentioned Tirkey launched Ranjit Gill — Director of Hockey India and its senior most worker, her affiliation with the game going again many years — because the performing director basic to everybody together with the Minister. On the identical time, Cdr R.Ok. Srivastava, who has been directed to cede authority as DG, was current together with secretary basic Bholanath Singh and chief selector R.P. Singh in Chandigarh, accompanying Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.
Monday’s assembly in New Delhi additionally noticed considerations raised across the survival of the Hockey India League and its current governance construction with Mandaviya making it clear in no unsure phrases that the federal government would again its continuation in each manner.
Change in HIL possession and governance construction
“The Minister assured full assist to the HIL but additionally made it clear that the prevailing construction wanted to be change. A five-member committee has been advised together with representatives from the franchises, Hockey India and the ministry to thrash out the very best manner ahead,” sources within the know mentioned.
There was additionally a proposal to make the franchise house owners stakeholders within the league with a share of fairness however there was disagreement in regards to the share. Whereas HI officers stored pushing for 51% and unique voting rights, the franchises current have been eager on equitable holding, one thing the Ministry was extra in favour of. The proposed committee has been requested to work out a framework inside a month.
The Ministry has additionally reportedly assured Tirkey that its primary curiosity was in guaranteeing the expansion and growth of hockey with no particular person greater than the game and anybody unwilling was free to go away.
Batra, Asima in assist
In the meantime, former HI and FIH president Narinder Batra has thrown his assist in Tirkey’s favour within the federation’s inside battle for management whereas suggesting measures to resolve the stalemate together with structure of an unbiased Advert Hoc Committee to supervise Hockey India till the elections, independently analyzing all POSH-related complaints, conducting an unbiased monetary/forensic assessment of main expenditure, grants, advantages and funds amongst others.
“I perceive that 12 Government Board members have supported the place of Secretary Basic Bholanath Singh in relation to the proposed motion regarding Cdr R.Ok. Srivastava. This growth makes it much more essential that the premise for these positions, and any related monetary or different advantages supplied to member items or people, are independently examined,” he mentioned, referring to Tirkey’s discover of suspension to Srivastava.
Curiously, two EB members — Asima Ali and and Sunil Malik — have declared their assist for Tirkey as nicely. “I’m scripting this mail as a result of I’m actually very upset after seeing that an individual who’s President of Hockey India, who has been a famend participant, a dignified individual and a Member of Parliament and has at all times labored actually for the event of hockey, is dealing with such opposition from the Government Board.
“Slightly these EB members are favouring an individual (Director Basic) who has been repeatedly not complying with the orders of the president’s workplace. I’m actually stunned and disenchanted to see all this and I don’t assist such behaviour the place any official/EB member is disrespecting the chair and orders of president,” Asima wrote.
ACT from October 27
In the meantime in Chandigarh, Mann launched the event brand for the October 27-November 5 occasion with the league matches in Jalandhar and the knockouts and ultimate in Mohali. The six nation event — together with Pakistan, Malaysia, Korea, Japan and China — has been made ticket-free with the India-Pakistan conflict scheduled for November 1. Oman and Bangladesh are the reserve groups.
The 2 venues — Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and ₹8.96 crore for the Olympian Balbir Singh (Senior) Worldwide Hockey Stadium in Mohali — can be upgraded at a coast of ₹14 crore and ₹8.96 crore respectively. “These should not merely infrastructure tasks however an funding in Punjab’s sporting future,” Mann added, declaring that the occasion can be a testing floor for the state staking its declare to host the 2030 World Cup as nicely.
Revealed – September 14, 2026 08:48 pm IST
