Former Indian hockey team captain Dilip Tirkey appreciates Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s initiative to officially make hockey as the national game of the country. Yesterday Patnaik had written a letter to PM Modi urging him to make hockey as the national game of the country.
Hockey is the national game of India by far for most of the people but originally India hasn’t declared its national game status to any game.
“I appreciate Chief Minister’s work and research which bring to light that hockey is not yet the national sport officially. If you check facts, youll realize an RTI filed in 2012 had revealed the same. Peoples misconception had the sport taken for granted, when hockey actually brought laurels to the country in the past,” Tirkey said.
“India has got highest Olympic gold medal in hockey. Therefore, it should be promoted more,” he said.
He said the state’s hockey players are happy that the Odisha government is sponsoring and promoting the game. Not to forget, Odisha government is now a proud sponsor of Indian hockey team.
“I urge you all to involve yourself in the step taken by CM as hockey needs more recognition, Tirkey added.
Tirkey found support from former Indian national hockey team player Lazarus Barla, who said: “Like Odisha Chief Minister, other state CMs should also write to the Prime Minister and mount pressure to notify hockey as the national game. We appreciate Patnaik’s initiative.”
Odisha will host the upcoming hockey world cup.
