The tussle within Hockey India shows no sign of resolving any time soon.
“I understand that 12 Executive Board members have supported the position of Secretary General Bholanath Singh in relation to the proposed action concerning Cdr R.K. Sources said Tirkey introduced Ranjit Gill — Director of Hockey India and its senior most employee, her association with the sport going back decades — as the acting director general to everyone including the Minister. At the same time, Cdr R.K. Srivastava, who has been directed to cede authority as DG, was present along with secretary general Bholanath Singh and chief selector R.P. Singh in Chandigarh, accompanying Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. “The Minister assured full support to the HIL but also made it clear that the existing structure needed to be change. Meanwhile, former HI and FIH president Narinder Batra has thrown his support in Tirkey’s favour in the federation’s internal fight for control while suggesting measures to resolve the stalemate including constitution of an independent Ad Hoc Committee to oversee Hockey India until the elections, independently examining all POSH-related complaints, conducting an independent financial/forensic review of major expenditure, grants, benefits and payments among others. Srivastava.
A five-member committee has been suggested including representatives from the franchises, Hockey India and the ministry to thrash out the best possible way forward,” sources in the know said. This development makes it even more important that the basis for these positions, and any relevant financial or other benefits provided to member units or individuals, are independently examined,” he said, referring to Tirkey’s notice of suspension to Srivastava. Even as some of the top brass of the federation was present in Chandigarh for the formal announcement of the men’s Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) on Monday, president Dilip Tirkey was meeting Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and other senior government officials along with HIL franchises in New Delhi.
The two venues — Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and ₹8.96 crore for the Olympian Balbir Singh (Senior) International Hockey Stadium in Mohali — will be upgraded at a coast of ₹14 crore and ₹8.96 crore respectively.
“These are not merely infrastructure projects but an investment in Punjab’s sporting future,” Mann added, declaring that the event would be a testing ground for the state staking its claim to host the 2030 World Cup as well.