Fresh turmoil hit Hockey India on Tuesday when its long-serving CEO Elena Norman resigned from her place, alleging that her remuneration was held again for a protracted interval and the job itself was made “difficult” by rampant factionalism within the physique. The 49-year-old Australian held the submit for practically 13 years and had not been paid for the final three months, in accordance with sources in HI.
“There were some issues (regarding salary) and after much persuasion, that got cleared last week,” Norman advised PTI after HI issued an announcement saying her exit with out specifying any causes.
“There are two factions in Hockey India. 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 stated.
“It was getting tough to deliver in the fight between two factions,” she added. (Janneke Schopman Resigns As Head Coach Of Indian Women’s Hockey Team)
Norman moved to India in 2007 to work for a sports activities advertising agency earlier than being appointed the federation’s first CEO in 2011. Her resignation comes days after the chief coach of the Indian ladies’s hockey workforce Janneke Schopman give up, claiming that she was not valued and revered by the nationwide federation. She had additionally complained a few troublesome work setting.
Norman’s resignation is one other setback for the physique. HI president and former India captain Dilip Tirkey, whereas accepting Norman’s resignation, expressed his gratitude in the direction of the Australian.
“Not only as the President of Hockey India but also as a former player and avid hockey enthusiast, I want to formally acknowledge and extend my sincere gratitude for her remarkable contributions over the last 12-13 years,” Tirkey stated in an announcement.
“Her dedication and efforts have played a pivotal role in propelling Hockey India and Indian hockey to the commendable position they hold today. I wish her great success in all her future endeavours.”
During the time she held the highest job, the nation’s women and men’s groups achieved career-best world rankings.
A historic bronze-medal end by the lads’s workforce on the Tokyo Olympic Games, ending a 41-year medal drought, was additionally a significant accomplishment. The ladies additionally completed at an unprecedented fourth within the quadrennial showpiece.
Norman served a significant a part of her stint with HI when former worldwide hockey federation (FIH) chief Narinder Batra was the president of the nationwide physique.
During her tenure, HI hosted two consecutive editions of FIH Men’s World Cup in 2018 and 2023, two Junior Men’s World Cup in 2016 and 2021 and likewise hosted 5 editions of the now-discontinued Hockey India League (HIL), a franchise-based league.
Besides, HI additionally hosted a number of worldwide hockey occasions together with the Champions Trophy, World League Finals in 2015 and 2017, Olympic Qualifiers in 2019 and 2024 in addition to the Hockey Pro League dwelling video games throughout her tenure.
“Elena was also at the forefront of bringing women’s hockey to limelight, providing them equal facilities as the men’s hockey team, including cash awards recognising standout performances in international events through the Hockey India Annual Awards,” stated a Hockey India assertion.
“She was particularly instrumental in the success of the women’s team that qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics, a historic feat as the team qualified for the first time and participated in the Olympics after 36 years,” the assertion added.
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