The tussle within Hockey India shows no sign of resolving any time soon.

Even as some of the top brass of the federation was present in Chandigarh for the formal announcement of the men’s Asian Champions Trophy (ACT) on Monday, president Dilip Tirkey was meeting Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and other senior government officials along with HIL franchises in New Delhi.

Sources said Tirkey introduced Ranjit Gill — Director of Hockey India and its senior most employee, her association with the sport going back decades — as the acting director general to everyone including the Minister. At the same time, Cdr R.K. Srivastava, who has been directed to cede authority as DG, was present along with secretary general Bholanath Singh and chief selector R.P. Singh in Chandigarh, accompanying Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.

Monday’s meeting in New Delhi also saw concerns raised around the survival of the Hockey India League and its existing governance structure with Mandaviya making it clear in no uncertain terms that the government would back its continuation in every way.

Change in HIL ownership and governance structure

“The Minister assured full support to the HIL but also made it clear that the existing structure needed to be change. A five-member committee has been suggested including representatives from the franchises, Hockey India and the ministry to thrash out the best possible way forward,” sources in the know said.

There was also a proposal to make the franchise owners stakeholders in the league with a share of equity but there was disagreement about the percentage. While HI officials kept pushing for 51% and exclusive voting rights, the franchises present were keen on equitable holding, something the Ministry was more in favour of. The proposed committee has been asked to work out a framework within a month.

The Ministry has also reportedly assured Tirkey that its main interest was in ensuring the growth and development of hockey with no individual bigger than the sport and anyone unwilling was free to leave.

Batra, Asima in support

Meanwhile, former HI and FIH president Narinder Batra has thrown his support in Tirkey’s favour in the federation’s internal fight for control while suggesting measures to resolve the stalemate including constitution of an independent Ad Hoc Committee to oversee Hockey India until the elections, independently examining all POSH-related complaints, conducting an independent financial/forensic review of major expenditure, grants, benefits and payments among others.

“I understand that 12 Executive Board members have supported the position of Secretary General Bholanath Singh in relation to the proposed action concerning Cdr R.K. Srivastava. This development makes it even more important that the basis for these positions, and any relevant financial or other benefits provided to member units or individuals, are independently examined,” he said, referring to Tirkey’s notice of suspension to Srivastava.

Interestingly, two EB members — Asima Ali and and Sunil Malik — have declared their support for Tirkey as well. “I am writing this mail because I am really very upset after seeing that a person who is President of Hockey India, who has been a renowned player, a dignified person and a Member of Parliament and has always worked honestly for the development of hockey, is facing such opposition from the Executive Board.

“Rather these EB members are favouring a person (Director General) who has been continuously not complying with the orders of the president’s office. I am really surprised and disappointed to see all this and I do not support such behaviour where any official/EB member is disrespecting the chair and orders of president,” Asima wrote.

ACT from October 27

Meanwhile in Chandigarh, Mann released the tournament logo for the October 27-November 5 event with the league matches in Jalandhar and the knockouts and final in Mohali. The six nation tournament — including Pakistan, Malaysia, Korea, Japan and China — has been made ticket-free with the India-Pakistan clash scheduled for November 1. Oman and Bangladesh are the reserve teams.

The two venues — Olympian Surjit Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar and ₹8.96 crore for the Olympian Balbir Singh (Senior) International Hockey Stadium in Mohali — will be upgraded at a coast of ₹14 crore and ₹8.96 crore respectively. “These are not merely infrastructure projects but an investment in Punjab’s sporting future,” Mann added, declaring that the event would be a testing ground for the state staking its claim to host the 2030 World Cup as well.

Even as the Indian hockey teams returned disappointing performances from the ongoing World Cup, the revived Hockey India League’s third edition seems to be on shaky ground.

The HIL is battling for survival on several fronts barely two years after being re-launched with much fanfare. Multiple sources have confirmed to The Hindu that more than one existing team is on the verge of exiting and there are question marks over the women’s competition as well. In addition, very few foreign players have expressed interest in returning for the league.

“Last year, the Ranchi franchise came in as replacement for the Odisha team in the women’s competition and Gonasika among the men. Shrachi Tigers, who own the Bengal franchise among both men and women, are also on the lookout of investors to offload and exit,” federation sources admitted.

Earlier this year, owners of Ranchi Royals wrote to the HIL Governing Council seeking clarity on their continuation, non-receipt of promised sponsorship worth ₹10 crore from the Jharkhand government and transparency in commercial terms. The franchise has since been terminated over non-payment issues with Hockey India clearing dues from the franchise’s share of revenue.

Among the four women’s team, only JSW Sports and APL Apollo, owners of Delhi SG Pipers, have agreed to continue in the league, albeit verbally at the moment, after considering an exit. Sources said talks are in final stages for a Bangalore-based team as well. “The women’s league will happen, and with four teams only. The modalities are still being worked out but there is no question of discontinuing it,” a source in the know insisted.

The men’s competition, however, is likely to see fewer teams down from the eight in the first two editions. “There may be a change of ownership or franchise city. The number of teams is also likely to be less, perhaps five or six at the most,” Hockey India officials said.

The league has been plagues with issues from the beginning. Gonasika was roped in as the eight men’s team on the day of Player Auction in 2024.

Ranchi’s original women’s team was accused of non-payment by several foreign players and even Shrachi managed to clear its dues for the 2025 season only towards the end of June. The lack of foreign players’ interest due to payment uncertainties also forced Hockey India to extend its initial registration deadline from July 24 to August 31.

It has also been reliably learnt that HI president Dilip Tirkey has had several rounds of meetings with franchise owners including Parth Jindal of JSW and Sanjay Gupta of APL Apollo, prospective sponsors and representatives of the Tata Group in the last one month across the country, trying to salvage the league.

It has also been learnt that the precarious situation around HIL and the series of meetings had led to Tirkey cancel his own travel for the World Cup and denying official permission to HI Director General Cdr. RK Srivastava, convenor the HIL Governing Committee, for the same, which was disregarded.