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Hockey India Infighting Deepens Over Unapproved Executive Meeting
Hockey India is having a disagreement between its president and secretary general.
Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh called an executive committee meeting for October 6, 2026.
President Dilip Tirkey says the meeting was called without asking for his approval first.
The meeting will discuss elections in the Hockey Association of Odisha.
Tirkey believes other urgent Hockey India matters should come first.
He has also filed a police complaint against some Hockey India officials.
The complaint includes serious accusations such as criminal breach of trust and theft.
The disagreement is making it harder for the federation’s leaders to work together.
President Dilip Tirkey objected to Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh calling Hockey India’s October 6 executive committee meeting without prior approval or consultation.
The meeting agenda includes the Hockey Association of Odisha elections, affiliated-unit status, and Tirkey’s police complaint against Hockey India officials.
Tirkey said urgent matters affecting Hockey India had been given less priority than the Odisha association election.
Tirkey accused certain officials of criminal breach of trust, theft, endangerment of life, and wrongful abandonment in a Delhi Police complaint.
The dispute follows Tirkey’s decision to remove Director General RK Srivastava’s authority and responsibilities over eight charges.
- Who
- Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey and Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh are at the center of the dispute, involving other Hockey India officials and Director General RK Srivastava.
- What
- Tirkey is challenging the calling of Hockey India’s 120th executive committee meeting and has raised concerns about administrative decisions and a police complaint.
- Where
- The meeting is scheduled at the Hockey India office in New Delhi; Tirkey’s complaint was filed with Delhi Police.
- When
- The disputed meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2026; Tirkey referred to an earlier meeting held on September 18.
- Why
- Tirkey says the meeting lacked the required presidential consultation and that other urgent Hockey India matters should receive priority over the Odisha association election.
Dilip Tirkey’s Position
Bhola Nath Singh’s Actions
Approval for the meeting
Dilip Tirkey’s Position
Tirkey says the October 6 meeting should not have been convened without the president’s prior approval and consultation.
Bhola Nath Singh’s Actions
Bhola Nath Singh called the 120th executive committee meeting and issued notice for it; the article does not state a response from him to Tirkey’s objection.
Priority of the agenda
Dilip Tirkey’s Position
Tirkey questions why the Hockey Association of Odisha election was given prominence when other urgent and substantive Hockey India matters remain unresolved.
Bhola Nath Singh’s Actions
The meeting agenda places the Odisha election, the status of affiliated units, and related follow-up action before the executive committee; the article does not provide Singh’s stated reasoning.
Handling the police complaint
Dilip Tirkey’s Position
Tirkey filed the complaint and accused certain Hockey India officials of serious offenses, including criminal breach of trust, theft, endangerment of life, and wrongful abandonment.
Bhola Nath Singh’s Actions
Singh’s meeting agenda includes discussion of the complaint, but the article does not report a separate response or counterclaim from him.
Key facts
- Meeting
- Hockey India’s 120th executive committee meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2026, at noon in New Delhi.
- Meeting caller
- Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh called the meeting while in Japan, according to the report.
- Main agenda item
- The agenda includes the Hockey Association of Odisha annual general body meeting and executive committee election.
- President’s objection
- Dilip Tirkey said he did not approve the meeting in its current form and objected to the lack of prior consultation.
- Police complaint
- Tirkey filed a complaint with Delhi Police against certain Hockey India officials.
- Earlier meeting
- Tirkey said the 119th executive board meeting was held on September 18 without his prior approval or consultation.
- Administrative action
- Tirkey previously removed Director General RK Srivastava’s authority and responsibilities over eight charges.
Quotes
Dilip Tirkey
President of Hockey India and former India captain
“While elections of State Associations are important matters for the respective associations, I do not understand why the Hockey Odisha Association election has been accorded such priority at the Executive Board level of Hockey India.”
rediff.com
“I do not accord my approval to the proposed 120th Executive Board Meeting in its present form and strongly object to its being convened without the required consultation and prior approval of the President.”
rediff.com
Sources
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