Hockey India was thrown into fresh turmoil on Tuesday after Australian Elena Norman quit as CEO after 13 years.
Norman’s exit followed Janneke Schopman’s departure as head women’s coach last week who cited a lack of “value and respect”.
Norman told PTI in an interview that “it was getting tough to deliver in the fight between two factions. The environment was becoming suffocating.”
She referred to the Hockey India factions. “There is (President) Dilip Tirkey and I and there is (Secretary) Bholanath Singh, (Executive Director) Cdr. R K Srivastava and (Treasurer) Sekar J Manoharan,” she said.
“There are guys who want power and then there is (HI President) Dilip (Tirkey) who is a nice guy, only after betterment of Indian hockey.”
Norman had taken charge at Hockey India since 2011 at a time when the governing body was being recognised from the suspended Indian Hockey Federation.
During her tenure, Hockey India hosted two successive FIH Men’s World Cups in 2018 and 2023, two Junior Men’s World Cups and hosted five Hockey India Leagues.
“Elena was at the forefront of bringing women’s hockey into the limelight, providing them equal facilities as the men’s team including cash awards… the CEO also spearheaded the launch of Hockey India Coaches Education Pathway that equipped domestic coaches with global standards along with various initiatives for Indian technical and match officials,” a Hockey India statement said.
“I would like to express my gratitude for Elena’s time and dedication.
“Her dedication and efforts have played a pivotal role in propelling Hockey India and Indian hockey to the commendable position they hold today,” Tirkey said.
