The fiasco has been hotly debated ever since India’s defeat within the crossovers towards New Zealand and the consequent failure to make it to the quarterfinals. The place of leader trainer Graham Reid, India’s failure to mend penalty nook woes within the pool level and loss of psychological toughness in crunch scenarios are the problems that might be central to the postmortem of efficiency.
Hockey India boss Dilip Tirkeythe primary ever player-president of the federation, has a task on his fingers to determine what took place to the staff that had introduced again Olympic glory by way of returning to the Games podium with a bronze medal in Tokyo in 2021.
Dilip Tirkey (Image credit score: hockey India)
The HI leader took day trip from his busy time table right through the World Cup to have a talk with Timesofindia.com on that and his stint to this point.
Excerpts:
Q. How has your enjoy as Hockey India president been to this point?
It’s an honor to be the Hockey India president. I feel the (erstwhile) IHF used to be shaped in 1925. It’s the primary time {that a} former participant has been elected president of the federation. At the similar time, it’s difficult and difficult. Many folks have expectancies (from me). So there’s numerous duty and I’m making ready accordingly.
Q. You had been in numerous administrative roles in the past with the Odisha govt. How other is that this?
I feel I used to be born for hockey as a result of once I began taking part in, I did not comprehend it might be an approach to life and a trail that results in the Olympics, World Cups. After retiring, I did not know I may transform an administrator as smartly. So whether or not it is to play or to control, I’m made for hockey. That’s what I imagine. After entering management, I’ve learned that as a gamers we have been handiest afflicted about giving efficiency, successful, shedding. But now, as a president, I’ve realized that you’re chargeable for the advance of the game proper from the district point, at sub-junior, junior and senior ranges, each women and men, the nationwide championships, tips on how to expand coaches and umpires, from the place to get the sponsors, tips on how to convey again Hockey India League (HIL). So as a president I’m chargeable for all that.
Q. A World Cup in India with a former Hockey participant as Indian president. Any memorable enjoy of assembly some outdated buddies right through the event?
When I met Max Caldas, head trainer of the Spain staff, it reminded us of a previous second that we shared with every different. We talked in regards to the time once I went to play for the membership Klein Zwitserland within the Dutch league. Caldas extensively utilized to play for a similar membership and I lived in the similar condominium that he used to reside in. By then, he had surrender taking part in. I discovered his outdated stick within the condominium and referred to as it Maxi if I may play with that stick. He stated ‘why now not’. The different day he stated that he used to be very venerated that I performed along with his stick (smiles).
In some of the seasons of the PHL (Premier Hockey League), I feel 2006-07, I used the similar hockey stick. I used to be hitting really well with it, scored many targets and become the event’s most sensible scorer that 12 months. So we have been having amusing speaking about that.
Dilip Tirkey (Image credit score: Hockey India)
Q. You discussed HIL, and we know the way giant a task it has performed as a feeder of high quality gamers who went directly to win the 2016 Junior World Cup and the bronze medal on the Tokyo Olympics. But the HIL hasn’t took place since 2017. What are the efforts Hockey India is making to restore the league?
I additionally imagine HIL has been a large platform for our younger Indian gamers to realize enjoy, get publicity. We may see how the early life gamers won self belief. I trust that and we’re taking a look at how the league can come again and our younger gamers get extra probabilities. Talks are on.
Q. Is Hockey Indian discussing chances with the similar outdated HIL staff house owners or are there new traders prepared to return ahead?
Call it traders or businesses, we are looking for ( events) who may also be related to the game on a long-term foundation and likewise give a contribution to the game’s building. We are getting sure responses as smartly. Things might be clearer in a month or two when I will let you know extra main points.
Q. The new FIH president Tayyab Ikram stated a window for HIL with the supply of all world stars with out nerve-racking the Pro League fixtures is being checked out…
Yes, we’ve had a phrase with him. We have asked that (window for HIL). Hockey India League is essential, now not only for Indian hockey but additionally for international hockey. He understands this and has given a favorable reaction against discovering a window for HIL.
Q. Talking about that, state-level hockey in India is slowly vanishing. Many school- and club-level tournaments have vanished off the calendar, particularly if we have a look at Delhi. How will you repair that downside?
You are proper. We have the nationwide championship at sub-junior, junior and senior ranges. But no matter home championships we’ve, our most sensible gamers don’t seem to be to be had to play as a result of a packed world calendar. And till the ones stars are there in the ones occasions (the home tournaments won’t transform in style once more). So I perceive. We must stay that during thoughts, someplace home hockey is getting overpassed.
We have asked all of the state our bodies to paintings against that with the state govt and corporates. When we discuss home hockey, the state gadgets will have to be self-sufficient, handiest then we will expand. Wherever in India there’s hockey (tradition), the state frame will have to be sure that native tournaments occur frequently. If it has took place in Odisha, it is just as a result of the state govt.
Dilip Tirkey (Image credit score: Hockey India)
Q. You discuss unavailability of stars in tournaments just like the nationwide championship. As Hockey Indian president, are you taking a look at giving extra common breaks to gamers in order that it additionally is helping them to be in a greater house mentally with the intention to carry out persistently?
We have spotted that gamers had been spending numerous time in nationwide camps. We will paintings one thing out and communicate to gamers whether or not camps lasting months is an issue or now not.
Q. Continuing with the subject of India’s most sensible gamers, the staff’s efficiency at this World Cup has sadly been not anything wanting a crisis. What are your perspectives as a Hockey India president?
First of all, we will be able to have a gathering after the event with the trainer, the staff and different group of workers. We will communicate to the senior gamers about what it used to be as a result of which the efficiency may now not fit the expectancies. The greatest explanation why at this level, I had the boldness that if our drag-flicker works, the Indian staff will carry out smartly. But within the 4 fits (till the crossover defeat towards New Zealand), our dragflicker Harmanpret (Singh) wasn’t in shape. Had he been in shape, the effects would had been other. The staff’s self belief would had been other. That’s the largest explanation why in line with me. There are different causes as smartly, which we will be able to consult with the staff later.
Q. As a former participant, what do you suppose the staff lacked?
If we communicate in regards to the league (pool) fits, the starvation to win used to be someplace missing. When we all know that objective distinction is essential within the league level, we will have to have long gone for it (transformed our probabilities into targets); I could not see that. We performed smartly towards England however quick corners did not paintings and we ignored box targets as smartly. So the starvation used to be lacking someplace. I needless to say certainly one of our primary gamers (Hardik Singh) were given injured, however that does not imply the staff will get slowed down. Then within the pre-quarterfinal (crossover) as smartly we have been main 3-1…I agree that tiebreakers (shootouts) can move both means, however two times we were given the risk the place we may have received by way of scoring. All in all, such a lot of probabilities we ignored. So that is what I imply by way of lacking the starvation.
Dilip Tirkey (Image credit score: Hockey India)
Q. Were you stunned to look 4 kids — Rajkumar Pal, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Shamsher Singh — a number of the 5 males picked for the penalty shootout towards New Zealand?
Both the goalkeepers (PR Sreejesh and Krishan Pathak) did smartly. Excellent! It (shootout line-up) used to be now not unexpected for me as a result of without a doubt we felt that our younger gamers are there as a result of they’re just right.
Q. Are you additionally someplace nervous why none from the 2021 Junior World Cup may come into the senior squad for this World Cup. We had seven from the 2016 junior World Cup-winning staff within the 2018 World Cup…
There might be many causes. The Junior World Cup is a feeder event for the senior World Cup. It took place after the 2001 Junior World Cup as smartly when many gamers went directly to play for the senior staff. That it could not occur this time (2021) surprises me as smartly. We have to be aware of this truth.
Q.Last query. The place of High Performance Director at Hockey India has been vacant for a while now. What’s the most recent on that?
After the World Cup, we will be able to speak about it once more.