Former Indian field hockey player Dilip Tirkey made history by becoming the first player to head the hockey federation in India since it was established 97 years ago.
Tirkey, a Catholic, was best known for his penalty corner hit. Dilip was one of the most difficult defenders to beat in the world and was known as “The Wall of Indian Hockey.
“I am honored to take up the new position,” he said. “We are here to work for hockey. I will ensure Indian hockey reaches new heights,” added the former full back and three-time Olympian.
“I have known Tirkey even before his playing days. He is a devout Catholic,” said Archbishop John Barwa of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar diocese of Odisha.
Archbishop Barwa, who hails from Sundargarh district like Tirkey, said “Our boy was an extremely talented player and given his zeal for the sport.”
“I am sure he would be able to restore Indian hockey back to its past glory,” said the prelate.
A sports reporter who asked not to be named said that during Tirkey’s days as a player it was easy to catch him for an interview in the church than in the stadium.
“I used to spot him more in the Sacred Heart Cathedral,” said the journalist.
“Yes, I hold my faith dear. I visit churches in every state or country I go to,” the athlete admitted.
Jude Felix, a former hockey captain and national coach, said Tirkey’s election to the post will augur well for the sports in India.
“Tirkey has been a player and he knows what are the shortcomings and can right the wrongs of the past in the game’s administration,” said Felix.
Tirkey, the second tribal player to captain India in the Olympics after Jaipal Singh Munda in 1928, was elected unopposed late September as president of Hockey India.
The 44-year old former player credited Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s “contribution to hockey” for his election.
“People saw the kind of work the state has put in for hockey in the last few years,” he said.
Tirkey was born in Odisha’s remote tribal village of Saunamara in Sundergarh district to Roman Catholics Vincent Tirkey, a former state level player, and Regina.
Dilip Tirkey has the distinction of being the most capped Indian player having played in 412 international matches since his debut in 1995 against England.
He was part of the team that won the 1998 Asian Games gold medal. He also won two Asia Cup gold medals in 2003 and 2007, along with a bronze in 1999.
Belonging to the Oraon tribe and best known for his penalty corner hit, Tirkey was part of the Olympics teams in Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000), and Athens (2004).
The first tribal to bag the Padma Shri, Tirkey retired from the sport in 2010. He entered politics and was elected unopposed to the upper house of Parliament in 2012.
But his “heart was in hockey” and he returned to the sport as administrator of the Odisha hockey federation.
Now heading the hockey administration for the country, he said his first big test is to successfully stage the 2023 Hockey World Cup in Odisha in January.
He also vowed to strengthen grassroots hockey, improve age-group and women’s hockey, and dribble India back to its past glory.
“We have a huge volume of players at sub-junior and junior levels. All they need is quality coaching. It’s about getting a system in place right from the sub-junior level to the national team,” he said.
The former ace fullback said “it’s all grace” from God. “I have strong faith in God and strive hard to reach the objective,” he said.
