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Speaking at the ‘Meet the Press’ organised by Sports Journalists Association of Nagpur (SJAN), the star defender said that the national game too deserves better support from the corporates.
"I would not say that all the attention is given only to cricket but I feel that corporates should come forward and promote our national game too," Tirkey said when asked about the crores put in by corporates and filmstars in the Indian Premier League cricket.
Being the first hockey player in the world to appear in more than 400 international games, Tirkey said he had never thought of reaching this far.
"As a young player I only wanted to play for India. It was only when hockey statistician B G Joshi told me that I had played 360 international matches that I came to know I was second in the world," recollected Tirkey.
"Today I have played 412 international matches and it feels great to be on top of the world," he said.
Eventhough Indian hockey team is languishing at the 12th spot in the world rankings and European teams dominating the top half of the chart, Tirkey believes there was no favourite to win next year’s Commonwealth Games and World Cup, scheduled to be held in India.
"The game has changed a lot. The team that won the last World Cup failed in the Champions Trophy. So there are no clear favourites," Tirkey said.
Like cricket, Tirkey feels it’s time hockey too is glamourised. "Tournaments like Premier Hockey League (PHL) should be restarted. Our hockey organisers, though doing well, should search new and innovative methods to bring more glamour to the game. PHL tournaments were a great success. We should start such tournaments to bring in crowd," said Tirkey who led Orissa Steelers to the podium in the inaugural edition of PHL.
The Arjuna Awardee is of the view that six-a-side hockey should be introduced to make hockey more fast and interesting.
"Without disturbing the 70-minute game, I feel six-a-side hockey tournaments should be started. It will be very fast and of short duration," he opined.
Tirkey said India were unfortunate that whenever the team started doing well something untoward happened. "In 2003 we were doing well but defender Jugraj Singh got injured. Similarly, in the recent past the team got a setback when ace dragflicker Sandeep Singh got injured in a freak accident."
The defender is also worried over goal-keeper Baljit Singh’s injury. "He (Baljit) is our main goal-keeper. With him our team had started doing well. He was exceptional under the bar. His injury is a big blow to the Indian team. We hope Baljit recovers fast," Tirkey said.
The 31-year-old Tirkey, who won Arjuna Award in 2002, expressed concern over lack of infrastructure in popularising the game.
"There is a need to create conducive atmosphere for hockey by organising various tournaments at club and district levels," he said.
India’s 1-1 draw against Poland in the 2000 Sydney Olympics still rankles Tirkey, who has been rated as one of the most difficult defenders to get away with in the world.
"By playing a 1-1 draw against Poland, we lost an opportunity to play against Pakistan in the semi-final. That is one of the most regrettable moments in my life," he said.
The gold medal in Bangkok Asian Cup in 1998 is one of the happiest moments in life for the man from Sundergarh in Orissa, who made his international debut in 1995 against England.
Leading the Indian side for around a decade, Tirkey said he enjoyed his stint. "Pressure of leading Indian team was always there. In defeat it was the captain who had to face criticism. But I enjoyed captainship too because victory and defeat are part and parcel of the game," concluded Tirkey. (Report courtesy The Hitavada)




Vedashree Bondre
also has place in school nationals and junior nationals. She will be awarded Baidyanath Trophy and cash prize of Rs 3,000.
Continuing its tradition of felicitating outstanding sportspesons of the city, Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur (SJAN) in association with Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) will hold its annual awards function on August 29, birth day of hockey legend Major Dhyanchand, at Tilak Patrakar Bhavan auditorium, Panchsheel square, at 10 am.
Dilip Tirkey, Olympian and the first hockey player in the world to play over 400 matches, will be the chief guest of the function, informs a press release issued by Rahul Dixit, Secretary, SJAN.
Baidyanath and Western Coalfields Limited are the co-sponsors of the event.
Total seven awards including senior and junior sportspersons in men’s and women’s categories, sports organiser, best school and college will be presented on the occasion.
Names of the awardees will be announced soon.
In the past SJAN’s annual awards functions have been graced as chief guest by eminent people including ex-Test stars Dilip Vengsarkar, Sanjay Manjrekar, shooter Anjali Bhagwat, Olympian Mukesh Kumar, former India stumper Kiran More, Indian Cricket Board chief Adv Shashank Manohar and other sports personalities.


Title winners pose with the guests.

Top seed Paritosh Pramanik was stunned by unseeded Gendlal Vaidya.

Anand Deshpande of Sakaal in action. (pic Sakaal)
Ashish Yawle of Saam TV in action during the carrom tournament organised by SJAN and NUWJ. (Pic Courtesy Sakaal).
The second Carrom Tournament for the Media Employees organised by Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur and sponsored by Tirupati Urban Co-operative Bank began at NUWJ Hall, Panchsheel Square on Monday
In the most engrossing match of the first round, Anupam Soni of The Hitavada edged out Swapnil Jain of Lokmat Samachar 4-11, 23-0, 10-4 in three sets.
After losing the first set, Soni rallied brilliantly to win the second without conceding a single point in just three boards out of a maximum four. He maintained his rhythm in the decider to win the tie.
Other games of the opening day were one-sided affairs.
Anil Futane of the Hitavada blanked Deepak Labde of Lokmat in straight sets 17-0, 12-0.
Sujan Masid of Dainik Bhaskar had no difficulty in eliminating Balaji Iyer of Sakal 23-0, 14-0. Gendlal Vaidya also of Dainik Bhaskar thrashed Vilas Tijare of Lokmat 23-1, 23-0 in straight sets.
Jeevak Gajbhiye of Deshonnati got the better of Santosh Singh of Lokmat 18-0, 23-0.
On Tuesday the second round will start at 8.30 a.m. followed by doubles first round at 9.30 a.m.
Earlier, the 4-day event was inaugurated by Ramesh Borkute, Director, Tirupati Urban Co-operative Bank. Yadu Joshi, President, Maharashtra Union of Working Journalists; Pradeep Maitra, President, Tilak Patrkar Bhavan Trust were the guests of honour on the occasion.
Dr Ram Thakur, President, SJAN; SN Narnaware, Chief Referee and Mukund Nagpurkar, Assistant Chief Referee shared the dais.
SJAN treasurer Anupam Soni conducted the proceedings while convenor of the meet Nilesh Deshpande proposed a vote of thanks.
Tirupati Urban Co-operative Bank is the sole sponsors of the tournament.
Results (round one): Gendlal Vaidya bt Vilas Tijare 23-1, 23-0; Anupam Soni bt Swapnil Jain 4-11, 23-0, 10-4; Sujan Masid bt Balaji Iyer 23-0, 14-0; Jeevak Gajbhiye bt Santosh Singh 18-0, 23-0; Anil Futane bt Deepak Labde 17-0, 12-0.
April 6
Sports Journalists’ Association of Nagpur will be organising Carrom Tournament For Newspaper Employees at Tilak Patrakar Bhavan from April 20 to 23. The tournament has been sponsored by Tirupati Urban Co-operative Bank.
The tournament will be held in two categories i.e. men’s singles and doubles. Women’s singles event will depend on the entries. The entry fee for the men’s singles will be Rs 30 and Rs 50 for doubles. The last date of entry is April 17 and it can be confirmed with the sports desk of respective newspapers.
Cash prizes will be given to the winner, runners-up and first runners-up in each categories.
This is the second year of the tournament. Last year Paritosh Pramanik of The Hitavada clinched the title.
In the doubles, Lokmat duo Chittaranjan Nagdevte- Chandu Dasarwar emerged the winner while Paritosh Pramanik- Ramesh Marulkar finished runners-up.
Last year 81 players participated in the tournament. This year the organisors have expected more than 100 entries.
For more details interested persons can contact the coordinator Nilesh Deshpande (9881243198) and Bhaskar Choudhary (9822232987).
