Dilip Tirkey

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Personal information
Dilip Tirkey
Full name	Dilip Kumar Tirkey
Date of birth	27 November 1977 (1977-11-27) (age 30)
Place of birth	Sundargarh, Orissa, India
Playing position	Left Full Back
Club information
Current club	Orissa Steelers, HC Klein Zwitserland
National team²
1995–present	Indian hockey team	375 (52)
² National team caps and goals correct as of 17 July 2006. * Appearances (Goals)

("Dilip") Kumar Tirkey, (born November 24, 1977 in Savnamara near Sundargarh, Orissa) is a field hockey defender from India, who belongs to the Oraon tribe of Chota Nagpur. He made his international debut for the Indian national team in 1995 against England in the Indira Gandhi Gold Cup. He has played in three Olympics and is considered as one of the best penalty corner hitters in the world.

He is adjudged the best player in the recently concluded 3rd PHL. Etching the career graph of an Adivasi lad from a remote hamlet of Orissa moving up the social ladder to become the captain of the national hockey team is a fascinating exercise. It is not easy to flinch from admiring the steady progress to stardom of Dilip Tirkey in the incomprehensible history of Indian hockey.

Call it destiny or coincidence, the fact remains that first Indian captain to the Olympics in 1928 at Amsterdam was an Adivasi — Jaipal Singh Munda. It is important to note that hockey in India has been inextricably linked to the inherent and often untapped Adivasi talent for decades. Dilip Tirkey symbolises the quality and content of a whole generation of Adivasi stars. This community had few backers when India was ruling the sport. Always acknowledged but left uncared for, the Adivasi genius for sport, notably hockey, remained in the background for years.

As the successor of India's most capped player ever, Pargat Singh, Tirkey captained the national squad for almost a decade. He's the only Adivasi to represent India in three Olympic Games, starting in 1996. After the 2004 Summer Olympics, where India finished in seventh place, he is playing in the Netherlands, for HC Klein Zwitserland in the highest league named Hoofdklasse, alongside his fellow countryman Gagan Ajit Singh.

He is the captain of Orissa Steelers,which won the 3rd Premier Hockey League title of India. Under the captaincy of Tirkey the Orissa Steelers did a dream run in which many of the top teams were perished. It was the maiden appearance of orissa steelers in the PHL.The comprises many immensely talented tribal (adivasi) players from the state of Orissa. players like Roshan Minz and Sunil Ekka are good prospects.

Other adivasi players, who capped for India, and hail from Orissa are Ignacious (Ignace) Tirkey, Prabodh Tirkey, Lazarus Barla and William Khalkho.

ACHIEVEMENT: Ekalavya Puraskar (1996) ONGC-Hockey Year Book Award (1998) Arjuna Award (2002) Padma Shri (2004)

OVERVIEW: Developed an indigenous sweep shot, aggressive defense and a dangerous penalty converter. Dilip Tirkey is rated as one of the most intelligent international hockey players of all times.

There cannot be a more defining moment for Dilip Tirkey in his splendid career lasting around 10 years now than leading the challenge. Suave, soft-spoken and skilful, Tirkey, with two Olympics and World Cups behind him, not to speak of the cornucopia of international matches over the years, has the requisite experience and expertise to shoulder the responsibility thrust on him. More than anyone, Dilip Tirkey will be aware that what he is wearing is only a crown of thorns. Tirkey's elevation has an historical perspective too. He is the second adivasi leading the national team, and this honour comes to him after a gap of 75 years, the first was Jaipal Singh who led India in India's first hockey Olympics in 1928 at Amsterdam. Tirkey may not be as lucky as Jaipal Singh to have such stalwarts as Dhyan Chand, Penniger and Cullen in the squad, but he has a generous measure of junior talent that won the World Cup at Hobart last year.

One of the most talented deep defenders in India, Dilip Tirkey, now, is also one of the most best penalty corner hitters in the world. Previously, it was a good day if Tirkey whacked in a couple of penalty corners. But now after strenuous training, one is seeing signs of those `good days’ happening quite often.Tirkey at the back is very dependable and this stems from the fact that he commits very few errors. In a one-to-one situation, Tirkey is one of the most difficult defenders to beat in the world.

A quiet guy, Tirkey keeps to himself and most of the time will be found in his room watching television.

[edit] Personal Life

Dilip's parents are Vincent Tirkey and Resina Tirkey. On 6th February 2006 Tirkey married his sweetheart Mira Tirkey

Some members of the ace defender's community had earlier threatened to boycott him and protest the marriage saying that he was going against an age-old custom by marrying a girl from his own clan.^[1]

A family member of the hockey player, however, said the local tribal Oram Society as well as the local church had sanctioned the marriage.

Height: 5'9"

Birthplace: Sawnamara, Sundergarh, Orissa Languages known: Oraon (Kurukh) - Mother Tongue, Oriya, Hindi, English Background: Belongs to Oraon tribe of Chota Nagpur Occupation: Asst. Manager, Indian Airlines Hobbies: Music, Dance