Dilip Tirkey appreciates Naveen Patnaik's initiative to notify hockey as national game

The Indian hockey team departed for the upcoming FIH Champions Trophy to be played in Netherlands and will take on Pakistan in the opening encounter of the tournament under the leadership of PR Sreejesh with the likes of Manpreet Singh and Sardar Singh in the squad. But in a bid to earn more recognition for the sport that has always been the unofficial national sport of India since its independence, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to name hockey as the official national sport of the country.

Former hockey captain of India, who is an MP in Rajya Sabha from the party led by Patnaik, supported CM’s initiative to help hockey get recognized as the national sport of India.

"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, you'll realize an RTI filed in 2012 had revealed the same. People's misconception had the sport taken for granted when hockey actually brought laurels to the country in the past," said Tirkey, reported PTI.

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.”

Tirkey also urged people across the country to support this initiative which can help in popularizing the sport.

"India has got highest Olympic gold medal in hockey. Therefore, it should be promoted more. I urge you all to involve yourself in the step taken by CM as hockey needs more recognition.” he said.