A few days after Janneke Schopman, the Indian women’s coach, announced her resignation, Elena Norman, the CEO of Hockey India, also submitted her papers, purportedly citing unpaid dues and a challenging work atmosphere.
Norman left the role after 13 years, and while HI did not disclose the reasons behind her resignation in an official statement, the Australian did discuss what ultimately caused her to leave.
“Absolutely, it was getting tough to deliver in the fight between two factions. The environment was becoming suffocating,” 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.
Hockey India president and former player Dilip Tirkey expressed gratitude for Norman and her contribution towards the sport in the country.
Accepting her resignation, he said, “I would like to express my gratitude for Elena’s time and dedication. 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. 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.”
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