The Delhi Hockey was fighting a legal battle against the parent body. State unit was suspended by the parent body for anti-federation activities in 2024.

Navneet Singh

Hockey India debarred Delhi from competing in the next month’s Senior Men National Hockey Championships 2026 scheduled to be held in Rourkela, Odisha.

As per the schedule of the 16thedition of the Senior Men National Hockey Championships, posted on Hockey India website, Delhi state is missing from the entry list. The Delhi Hockey played in Division B in 2025 edition of the national meet held in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. “Delhi Hockey was suspended by Hockey India in 2024. The state unit was fighting a legal battle and got an interim relief till September 2026.,” a national level coach told Sportsbackstory.com.

“The ongoing dispute between Hockey India and Delhi Hockey is the main reason for denying entry to the state unit in the national meet,” the national hockey coach added.

The development, according to the coach, is likely to have serious implications in the development of hockey in the Capital, which has produced several international players. Due to petty politics the players shouldn’t suffer. “Hockey India should allow Delhi to compete in the Rourkela national championships in October,” claims the hockey coach.

Delhi Hockey has been functioning on an ad-hoc basis for the last two years and had announced selection trials for the Rourkela national meet on September 16. But the trials were postponed. The players were informed through a WhatsApp message in Hindi. The trials have been rescheduled for September 22/23. “Some of the senior players of Delhi were busy in the national departmental competition in Odisha. Therefore, the trials were rescheduled,” the WhatsApp message circulated to the players stated.

We reached out to Dilip Tirkey, President, Hockey India, to know the reason to debar the Delhi team from next month’s national meet. Tirkey did not respond to calls and WhatsApp text message.

EOM