Hockey mess in India ‘not something that can’t be fixed’: Sports ministry source

Hockey India (Agency Images) NEW DELHI: The Sports Ministry is positive about resolving the ongoing disarray between the warring factions in hockey India. The source said they would wait for an internally friendly solution before seeing the need to intervene.“Let them solve it amicably, mutually. It’s not a problem that can’t be solved. It’s our duty to fix it. Just like football, hockey must work in a similar way with its league. It will be decided whether the intervention of the ministry will be needed when it becomes clear that the situation is not being solved,” said a source from the Ministry of Sports.Hockey India (HI) chief Dilip Tirkey, who is a former player, and the body’s general secretary Bhola Nath Singh have been locked in a public tug-of-war ever since the decision to change the team jersey color from blue to saffron ahead of the World Cup. The move was criticized outside of hockey circles.Subsequently, Tirkey stated on the record that he was not consulted before the decision was made. Last week, he further informed the CEO of HI, Cdr RK Srivastava, who is perceived to be close to Singh.Meanwhile, Bhola Nath Singh called an Emergent Board Meeting (EGM) on September 18 to discuss the current situation.Tirkey, meanwhile, insisted that he had not approved any such meeting and would not do so until he got an answer from Srivastava on the jersey fiasco among other things.Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met Hockey India’s top brass, including Tirkey, on Monday to discuss the roadmap and sustainability of the Hockey India League (HIL). Bhola Nath Singh and Acting CEO Ranjit Gill joined the meeting virtually.Cdr RK Srivastava attended an official function in Mohali along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Executive Council Member RP Singh when the dates and venues of the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy 2026 were announced.India’s men’s team finished eighth at the FIH World Championships in Belgium and the Netherlands, and the women did better by finishing fifth.