Name of the Sportsperson: Ignace Tirkey

Discipline: Hockey

Date of Birth: 10-05-1981

State: Orissa

Achievements and Awards:

•    Asia cup 2003.

•    Muruguppa Gold Cup 2001.

•    Padma Shree 2010.

•    Arjuna Award 2009.

•    Ekalavya Puraskar 2003.

Profile:

Ignacious ("Ignace") Tirkey is a member of India's hockey team. He plays as a midfielder and has captained the Indian team. He also serves the Madras Engineering Group (Madras Sappers) (corps of engineers) Indian army as junior commissioned officer. He holds the rank of Subedar. He is a product of Panposh Sports Hostel, Rourkela where he was spotted by Indian Army to help him pursue his career.

Tirkey made his debut for the national side in February 2001 at the Akbar el Yom Tournament in Cairo against Belgium. He was a member of Indian team that participated in the Athens Olympic in 2004, where India finished seventh.

He is most remembered for his incredible goal which he hit between Pakistan's ace striker Sohail Abbas's legs in the final minutes of 2003 Asia Cup to give India the winning lead after both teams were locked at 2-2 (India eventually added a 4th goal in the last minute). He looked dangerous in the match & always threatened, but could not finish well till that amazing goal he struck out of nowhere from the edge of the circle. That stunned Sohail & rest of Pakistan & helped India win the Asia Cup Gold for the first time ever.

Another highlight of his was in the Muruguppa Gold Cup in Aug 2001, where he scored a golden goal to win the final.

He led India in the 2006 Pakistan Test Series and 2006 Commonwealth Games (Melbourne). He led Chennai Veerans in the 2005 PHL. Nowadays plays for the Orissa Steelers. He was recalled for the Argentina Test Series in Jan 2009, but could not go due to his marriage with Masira Surin, commonwealth Games hockey gold medallist. He returned to Indian side for the Punjab Gold Cup and went on to win the gold at Ipoh in the Azlan Shah Cup.

By Indian Sports News