Tirkey to face UP's Rakesh Katyal, Jharkhand's Bhola Nath for HI chief's post

Former India captain Dilip Tirkey, who is the frontrunner for Hockey India president's post, will be up against Uttar Pradesh Hockey chief Rakesh Katyal and Hockey Jharkhand's Bhola Nath Singh in the elections of the national federation to be held on October 1.

But there is a twist in the tale as Uttar Pradesh Hockey secretary general RP Singh has requested Katyal to withdraw his nomination and support Tirkey instead. "We are happy to know that a former player like Dilip Tirkey has filed his nomination for president. I request Mr Rakesh to take back his nomination. I am sure that Mr Rakesh will think about the development and growth of hockey and take back his nomination," Singh wrote in his letter to Katyal. "We believe Dilip will take the right steps towards the development of hockey and we wish him luck."

Katyal, however, said that he is yet to take a call on whether to contest or not. "I have filed my nomination letter for the president's post. Yes, I got a request to withdraw my nomination but I have not made up my mind yet. As of now I am in the race but if things work out between all parties, I might as well withdraw," he told PTI.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations is September 23. The 44-year-old Tirkey, a player-turned-politician and administrator, is the country's most capped player with 412 international caps.

Hockey Jharkhand president Bhola Nath, a former national-level wrestler, has also thrown his hat in the ring for the president as well as secretary general's positions. Besides Bhola Nath, Delhi Hockey president Hitesh Sindwani and Hockey Maharashtra vice president Manoj Bhore will also be contesting for the secretary general's post. Bhola Nath too confirmed that he has filed his nomination for both positions.

"I have my nomination for both president and secretary general. I have no intention to withdraw as of now," he said. As per Hockey India Constitution, it is mandatory to have one male and one female nomination for the vice president and joint secretary's positions. Hockey Jammu & Kashmir's Asima Ali and Hockey Karnataka chief SVS Subramanya Gupta are the lone women and male candidates for the vice president's post.

Veteran sports administrator Sunil Malik of Hockey Haryana is the lone male candidate for the joint secretary's post, while Hockey Rajasthan's Arti Singh will fight it out with Renu of Hockey Haryana for the female joint secretary's position. Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu president Sekar J Manoharan is the lone candidate for the treasurer's post.