Bholanath summons Hockey India Executive Committee meeting in Nagoya; Tirkey labels it 'unapproved'

Hockey India secretary general Bholanath Singh, in Nagoya on Thursday, has called an Executive Committee meeting for October 6 while president Dilip Tirkey described the move as "unapproved".

The development comes as the Indian hockey teams remain unbeaten at the Asian Games, a tournament where Bholanath is currently present. Bholanath issued an email on Thursday afternoon seeking an Executive Board session to ratify the agenda from the previous meeting and to take up elections at Hockey Odisha. The report noted growing tensions within the federation alongside the on-field campaign.

The notice sent by Bholanath was explicit about the meeting’s scheduling: “Notice is hereby given that the 120th Executive Committee meeting of Hockey India will be held at 1200 hrs on October 6, 2026, at the Hockey India office in New Delhi,” the mail stated.

The mail also included administrative items and specifically flagged a police complaint for discussion. It named the police complaint, filed by Tirkey last week against certain HI officials claiming fraud and harassment, as part of the meeting’s agenda.

Tirkey has previously challenged the legitimacy of the federation’s recent gatherings in New Delhi, describing the earlier Executive Board meeting as invalid and unauthorised and arguing that only the president has the authority to convene such meetings. Sources cited in the report said the elections at Hockey Odisha, where Tirkey serves as president, are also disputed.

The Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for 1200 hrs on October 6, 2026, at the Hockey India office in New Delhi and will include the matters listed in the circulated agenda, including the police complaint raised by Tirkey.