By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: A group of office-bearers and former players of
Hockey Odisha on Sunday alleged that the administration of hockey in the state was
being “hijacked and manipulated” by Hockey India President Dilip Kumar Tirkey, and
demanded immediate intervention to restore transparency and democratic functioning in
the state body. They also deplored the manner in which the previous BJD government
had connived with Tirkey to form the Hockey Association of Odisha, which is in violation
of the Charter of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). They called it “illegal and a
brazen attempt to strangulate hockey in Odisha.”
Highlighting the brazen manner in which things were manipulated, the office-bearers
said that to control his stranglehold on the game, Tirkey as President of the illegally
formed Hockey Association of Odisha, has prevented elections of even this body for
over three months despite the expiry of the tenure of its Executive Committee on May
17, 2026. The Annual General Meeting held on June 18 had listed election of the
Executive Committee as an agenda item, but no election was held and no fresh
schedule has been announced.
“This is no longer merely an issue about an election. It is about who controls hockey in
Odisha and whether the sport will be administered through duly elected representatives
or through a system that can be influenced and manipulated,” said Pratap Satpathy,
General Secretary, Hockey Odisha. “We are concerned that the entire structure of
hockey in Odisha is being hijacked. The rules must apply equally to everyone, and the
players and genuine representatives of hockey must have a voice in determining its
administration.”
The office-bearers have also questioned the composition of several district hockey
associations, which constitute the electoral base of Hockey Odisha. They pointed to the
presence of government officials including IAS officers as ex-officio office-bearers in
district units and sought clarity on whether the present arrangements conform to the
applicable rules governing the state association.
The Odisha Government’s Sports & Youth Services Department had, in July 2021,
written to District Collectors regarding formation of hockey associations in all 30
districts. The communication recorded a framework under which Collectors could
function as Ex-Officio Presidents, nominated senior officers as Ex-Officio Secretaries
and District Sports Officers as Treasurers. “This is high-level connivance, a by product
of the culture in the previous government. We urge the Registrar of Societies to initiate
suo motu action and constitute an ad hoc body since the four year term of the
incumbent body has since expired, and therefore no authority to look after this body in
Odisha,” asked Satpathy.
Satpathy further said the question was ultimately about protecting the credibility of the
sport. “Odisha has built an extraordinary hockey ecosystem through its players,
coaches, administrators and supporters. That legacy cannot be allowed to become the
preserve of a few individuals. If there are questions about the electoral college, district
associations or the continuation of an Executive Committee beyond its prescribed
tenure, Government must intervene immediately and form a duly democratic set up as
per IOC charter,” he said.
Those attending the press conference include Pratap Satpathy, General Secretary,
Hockey Odisha; Pranab Kishore Patnaik, former Captain, Odisha State Hockey Team
and Joint Secretary, Hockey Odisha; Amar Kumar Mohanty, former Vice-Captain,
Odisha State Hockey Team and Treasurer, Hockey Odisha; Nirmal Bal, former player,
State Hockey Team and Executive Member, Hockey Odisha; and Debabrata Pati,
Executive Member, Hockey Odisha.
