Olympian and former captain of Indian Men hockey team, Dilip Tirkey has been elected as the President of Hockey Association of Odisha (HAO), the new governing body for hockey in the State of Odisha. Election of office-bearers and members of Executive Committee was conducted during the first Annual General Body Meeting of the new body at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on 17 May 2022.

Other office-bearers elected were: Jeeban Mohanty (Vice-President), Sanatan Sahu (General Secretary), Lucela Ekka (Joint-Secretary) and Pradipta Kumar Mohanty (Treasurer). Besides the office-bearers, Reena Rashmi Tirkey, Gouree Panda, Ranjan Kumar Das and Bharat Sahoo were elected as Executive Members.

One observer each from Hockey India (HI), Odisha Olympic Association (OOA) and Department of Sports & Youth Services (DSYS), Government of Odisha were present in the AGM. They were: Bhola Nath Singh (HI), Ashok Sahu (OOA) and Bijay Kumar Nayak (DSYS).

Also a Vice-President of Hockey India, Bhola Nath Singh presented mementos to the newly elected officer-bearers and executive members of HAO. With the election of office-bearers, HAO has secured the affiliation of Hockey India as Permanent Member. HAO got the Hockey India affiliation after spending one year as ad-hoc committee.

HAO replaced Hockey Odisha as the apex governing body for hockey in the State of Odisha. Hockey Odisha was earlier disaffiliated on the grounds of its failure to create own website within the stipulated time, provide information about players as well as mismanagement and irregularities. Hockey Odisha went to the High Court against the decision of Hockey India and the case is sub-judice now.
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PHOTO: Elected office-bearers with Returning Officer and Observers at the 1st Annual General Body Meeting of Hockey Association of Odisha in Bhubaneswar on 17 May 2022.