Hockey Odisha office-bearers rue ‘hijack’ of state hockey, ask State Government to intervene
Bureau,Odishabarta
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 bodyfor 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.
Satpathyfurther 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.
