Hockey India's outgoing CEO Elena Norman said on February 27 that the work environment within the HI was challenging, leading her to resign. After serving in the role for 13 years, Norman decided to step down. While Hockey India did not disclose the specific reasons for her departure in its official statement, Norman herself explained what prompted her to leave.
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It was getting tough to deliver: Elena Norman
"Absolutely, it was getting tough to deliver in the fight between two factions," Norman told PTI in an interview.
"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 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," the 49-year-old explained.
The situation was exacerbated by the non-payment of her salary for three months.
"There were some issues (regarding my salary) and after much persuasion that got cleared last week," Norman said.
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Schopman resigns as chief coach of Indian women's hockey team
HI faced another setback recently when the coach of the Indian women's hockey team, Janneke Schopman, resigned, citing a challenging work environment. Schopman expressed feeling undervalued and unappreciated by the governing body.
Similarly, Elena Norman, upon her resignation, echoed similar sentiments about the work environment in HI. She highlighted internal conflicts within Hockey India without delving into specific issues causing the disagreements. Despite this, Norman commended Tirkey for his consistent support.
Sources within HI mentioned that Dilip Tirkey has faced challenges in allocating time to Hockey India due to his political commitments with the Biju Janata Dal party (BJP) in Odisha. He is expected to contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections later this year.
Norman, who relocated to India in 2007 to work for a sports marketing firm, later assumed the role of the federation's inaugural CEO in 2011. She indicated that she has communicated her concerns to the HI board and is now anticipating a break.
"I have addressed my point to the board members. Dilip knows everything but I don't want to go into specifics. I feel it's my time to leave and I am excited about new opportunities. It's just time for myself now," she said.
"I am going to take a holiday, I am going to go fishing, I am going to go for some trek, I am going to spend time with my family. I have been here for a long time so I just want to unwind now.
"I will take at least three months off and then look for exciting opportunities. I don't know what will happen in future to be honest but it's all going to be great," she added enthusiastically.
Hockey India hosted two FIH Men's World Cups during Norman tenure
Norman served a major part of her tenure with HI under the presidency of former International Hockey Federation (FIH) chief Narinder Batra.
During her tenture, Hockey India successfully hosted two consecutive editions of the FIH Men's World Cup in 2018 and 2023, as well as two Junior Men's World Cups in 2016 and 2021. HI also hosted five editions of the now-discontinued Hockey India League (HIL).
Norman played a leading role in the organisational setup for these events.
Norman played a key role in the selection of Dutchman Sjoerd Marijne as the head coach of the women's team, which achieved a historic fourth-place finish in the Tokyo Olympics. Similarly, Schopman's appointment was also attributed to her influence.
She is also recognised for facilitating the appointment of Australian Graham Reid as the men's coach in 2019. Under Reid's guidance, the team secured a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics, breaking a 41-year medal drought.
Hockey India hosted numerous international hockey events during her tenure, including the Champions Trophy, World League Finals in 2015 and 2017, Olympic Qualifiers in 2019 and 2024, as well as the Hockey Pro League home games.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by PTI)
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