Odisha Wins Maiden National Hockey Title; Tirkey Calls for Format Review

Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey expressed his pride and joy at Odisha's historic triumph in the senior National men's hockey championship. Born and raised in Sundargarh, a district renowned for its passion for hockey, Tirkey attributed the sport's popularity to the abundance of artificial pitches, sports hostels, and government support.

"Sundargarh has over a dozen artificial pitches and numerous sports hostels. The State Government provides significant support," Tirkey explained. "In fact, Odisha boasts the best infrastructure for hockey. Earlier, Odisha players played for private teams in the Nationals. Now, we have formed a formidable team."

Tirkey emphasized the importance of the Nationals for Hockey India, acknowledging the need to review the tournament format. "We are discussing the need for a change. Some teams have conceded a lot of goals, which is not conducive to the future of Indian hockey," he said.

Regarding the absence of current India players in the Nationals, Tirkey cited international tournaments and the upcoming Hockey India League as reasons for their rest. "We want our national players to participate in the Nationals. But with so many international events and the HIL, we wanted them to rest," he explained.

Tirkey also addressed the role of Hockey India's High Performance Director in promoting grassroots talent. "We are organizing programs for boys and girls in various age groups. Our High Performance Director and his team are actively involved in scouting and development," he said.

Tags: #Hockey, #NationalTournament, #NationalChampionship, #Orissa, #Sport