National Championship important domestic tournament: Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey
The program of the hockey competition of Paris Olympics was released here. Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist India has been placed in Pool B. After facing New Zealand on July 27, the Indian team will face Argentina on July 29, Ireland on July 30, Belgium on August 1 and Australia on August 2. Netherlands, Spain, Germany, France, Great Britain and South Africa are placed in Pool A. The quarter-finals will be played on August 4 while the semi-finals will be played on August 6. The bronze medal play-off and final will be held on August 8.
International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach and International Hockey Federation President Tayeb Ikram were present at the ceremony organized to announce the program. The matches will be played at the Yves-du-Menoir Stadium in Columbus. Belgium is the defending champion in the men’s category.
National Championship important domestic tournament: Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey
New Delhi
All eyes will be on the upcoming 14th Hockey India Senior Women’s National Championship 2024 Pune, where India’s top hockey players and rising stars will compete for honors representing their respective state teams.
Hockey India selectors will be keeping a close eye on the performances of the players here to pick the key probables for the upcoming national coaching camp. The focus will now be on building a strong pool of players with an eye on qualification for the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup in 2026.
Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said in an official statement on Wednesday, Hockey India Senior Women’s National Championship is a very important domestic tournament, where we will see new talent emerging from different states and union territories. This year we will have participation from 28 states and union territories, with Indian team members representing their respective states. Hockey India selectors will closely monitor the performance of all the players and based on their recommendations, a new core group will be selected.
He further emphasized that even for the players of the current Indian team, a good performance in the 14th Hockey India Senior Women’s National Championship 2024 is important to retain their place in the core group.
He said, no player can cement his place in the core group. Everyone has to perform to the best of their ability to make it to the top. We now need to focus on making qualification for the FIH Women’s World Cup in 2026 and moving towards the Los Angeles Olympics. There is a lot of talent in India, the National Championship is an important platform to identify new talent and we need to further strengthen the domestic infrastructure to bring them to the fore.”
Hockey India Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh said, we are looking at introducing some new tournaments in the domestic calendar, especially for the development of women’s hockey. We already have a reorganized national championship, but we are also working on starting a domestic league for women which can give aspiring players an opportunity to showcase their talent and make their way into the national programme. Now is the time to rebuild and focus on investing in the future.
AIFF President sends notice to former Chief Legal Advisor accusing him of corruption
New Delhi
All India Football Federation (AIFF) President Kalyan Choubey has sent a legal notice to the organisation’s former chief legal advisor Nilanjan Bhattacharjee for making ‘serious allegations of corruption’ against him.
Bhattacharjee, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, claimed that Choubey committed corruption in the non-transparent tender process. He had alleged that Choubey made personal use of the ‘Funds of the Federation’.
Choubey had already termed these allegations as baseless and said that Bhattacharjee’s aim was to harm his reputation.
“It is very clear that their aim is to tarnish my image and reputation,” Choubey said in a letter addressed to all state units and executive committee members. I have sent him a legal notice regarding attempts of defamation and character assassination. I will take this matter to its logical conclusion.
He said, “I am personally reacting in this matter.” However, it is also my duty to protect the reputation of the AIFF in the face of attempts to undermine the organization through the allegations made against me.”
Choubey’s letter assumes significance as AIFF will hold its annual general meeting (AGM) on March 10 in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
After accusing Chaubey, Bhattacharjee’s services were terminated by AIFF.
Bhattacharjee had written in his letter, “Choubey, using his influence and pressure, got many tenders like broadcasting of I-League (last season), IWL, Santosh Trophy etc allotted to the same company. This company is closely related to the current chairman.
On these allegations, Choubey said, “Bhattacharjee was part of the tender selection committee and he did not even once question the tender selection and its issuance.”
On the use of federation funds, he said, “The AIFF President is entitled to travel in business class but I have traveled in economy class almost every time. The AIFF President is entitled to stay in suite rooms, but almost every time I have stayed in normal rooms. The AIFF President is entitled to receive Rs 10,000/- per day during the visit/meeting. Till date I have never taken even a single rupee in this matter.
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