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On the face of it, Indian hockey is doing the best it has in months. Asian Games gold and direct Olympic qualification for the men, and the Asian Champions Trophy triumph for the women, against all odds, masked the rot that is eating away at the sport’s governance. While accusations of extortion against the Secretary General have plummeted the sport to a new low, what is worrying is how Dilip Tirkey, Hockey India president, has been sidelined from running the sport in the country.
Tirkey is a legend – 400 caps for India and one of the greatest to have played the sport. Someone who knows and understands the requirements of modern hockey and is determined to put systems and structures in place. And yet, a deep dive into the affairs of Hockey India, throws up some grim realities. Tirkey has been cornered and chances are that he could even resign in the coming month.
That’s what begs several questions. How is it that the members of the Hockey India Executive Board have allowed such a scenario to come to pass? Why are they quiet? Will the Sports Ministry intervene? Will such politics destroy India’s foremost Olympic sport, and how will this crisis of governance be addressed?
The truth is that Tirkey is fighting a lone battle. There are obstacles at every step, and hurdles are being created to ensure he gets frustrated and leaves the job. Being a man of stature and integrity, Tirkey doesn’t need this. He isn’t a street fighter and will not be able to bow down after a point. And in such a situation, there is only one loser – Indian hockey.
Elena Norman, the long-time CEO, has been sidelined. Now, Tirkey too has been alienated. Janneke Schopman, the women’s Head Coach, has continuously faced the ire of officials for a while now. So much so that the women’s team wasn’t even given a mental conditioning coach ahead of the Asian Games despite repeatedly asking for one. And it was only ahead of the Asian Champions Trophy that the appointment was made.
“Things are not good,” said a source on condition of anonymity. “People are scared to speak up. Members have been told not to disclose things to the CEO. The President is being pushed every single step of the way. It is getting worse by the day.”
Tirkey has so far refused to comment publicly. He has maintained a dignified silence. But then, silence is never an admission of guilt. Tirkey doesn’t want this muck to come out in the open, and damage the credibility of the sport. However, it is all out there. And the rot has set in. Unless corrective measures are put in place, and soon, Tirkey could well give up and resign in the next month. Norman too could walk away from her job. With the Paris Olympic Games just eight months away, hockey could well go the way of wrestling when it comes to matters of governance.
Will Bholanath Singh dignify us with a comment on the extortion charge? It is a very serious issue and, for the sake of the sport, needs a clear answer. And there can’t be an element of grey. Either it happened, or it didn’t. For the sake of Indian hockey, a clarification is in order. There is another letter floating around, which alleges that Singh is filing a case and that Hockey India would bear the legal expenses. Clearly, the muck is deep and Tirkey, like it or not, has to be the man to clean it up. He is the face of Indian hockey, not Singh or anyone else. He is the one people listen to, and who was voted into power. He is the one that played 400 games for India. And now, he is being pushed away.
We in India have this fantastic ability to destroy a sport when things are going well. After 41 years, India won a medal in Tokyo. The Government of Odisha under Naveen Patnaik has done extraordinary things for the sport. Tirkey was elected as President with much fanfare. And now, within a year of coming to power, things have started to go downhill. If Singh and others feel the players are immune from all of this, they are mistaken. All of this reaches the players. They can’t speak because they are scared. Most want to avoid controversy and are apprehensive. But it impacts them mentally.
The truth is we don’t need a situation like this just months before Paris. That’s why we need course correction. And today. Indian hockey needs Tirkey to take control and streamline things. Ensure that the CEO stays on. Make certain that the women’s team gets as much as the men, and aren’t pushed around for the wrong reasons. Get the governance of the sport back on track. Create an environment where the women’s head coach stays on, for she has performances to back her. And most important, find an answer to the extortion charge.
Indian hockey deserves so much better. As does Tirkey.