Tirkey turns down IHF offer to become selector

BHUBANESWAR: Apparently under pressure, former India captain Dilip Tirkey on Friday turned down the offer by the rejuvenated Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) to become a part of the four-member national selection committee.

“I am not accepting the appointment as a selector by the IHF. Air India has not given me permission for this,” Tirkey said.

“Since I have to abide by what my department (Air India) wants me to do, I am not going to participate as a national selector in the ongoing men’s national (at Bhopal),” the Olympian said.

Stating that he had received a communication from the IHF regarding his appointment as a selector, Tirkey said he has already conveyed to the Federation his inability to accept the offer.

Evading a direct reply the controversies engulfing Indian Hockey in recent past, Tirkey said “there are a lot of things. I don’t want to get embroiled in the controversy involving IHF and Hockey India.”

The Padmashree awardee said his priority at present is to provide proper training and coaching to about 25 budding talents.

Meanwhile, Olympian Joaquim Carvalho reportedly hit out at Hockey India for stopping Tirkey and Ashish Ballal from performing their roles as selectors of the IHF in the ongoing 63rd men’s nationals at Bhopal.

In a letter to the sports ministry, Carvalho also accused an Air India Sports Control Board official of preventing the duo from doing their job as the IHF selectors.