Arjuna Awardee sleeps on the floor

Ignace Tirkey, Arjuna Awardee and Padma Shree slept on the floor for 4 days during a recent hockey tournament. Ignace who was playing for Army Red in the Super Division Hockey League at Bangalore slept on the floor for four days at the hostel of Sports Association of India.

Ignace has been the heart for the Indian team for many years and his match against Pakistan in the finals of Asia Cup 2003 has been a great match. He played that match with 3 stitches due to cut above his left eye.

Inspite of that he did not make a fuss about the conditions and put up with the meagre facilities of the hostel. The players had to wait for the water tanker every morning so that they could take bath.

A player of Army Green Uthappa said that not many knew who Ignace was. If it had been a cricketer, he would have been mobbed by crowds for his autograph.

Kuimanda Kiran, one of the umpires officiating in the Super Division League, alerted Siddu Chowshetti, owner of a private hotel in Bengaluru, about the living conditions of Tirkey and Sunil Ekka, another India international playing for Army Red. Mr. Chowshetti immediately invited Tirkey and Ekka to stay in his hotel for free, near the Raja Seat Gardens.

Ignace told The Hindu that,” Give players better food and accommodation during the tournaments the result will be good. The facilities provided are better than what they used to be earlier. All my other players should have got better food and accommodation.”

I hope his words find some ears…

FAME THROUGH NATIONAL GAME