Ignace Tirkey

Ignacious Tirkey
Personal information
Born (1981-05-10) 10 May 1981 (age 43)
Lulkidihi, Sundergarh, Odisha, India
Playing position Fullback
Senior career
Years Team
Services
2005–? Chennai Veerans
2007–2008 Orissa Steelers
National team
Years Team Caps
2001–2012 India 250+
Medal record
Men's field hockey
Representing  India
Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 2002 Busan Team
Asia Cup
Gold medal – first place 2003 Kuala Lumpur Team
Gold medal – first place 2007 Chennai Team
Asian Champions Trophy
Gold medal – first place 2011 Ordos City

Ignacious "Ignace" Tirkey is an Indian field Hockey player. He plays as a Fullback and has captained the Indian team.[1]

He also serves the Madras Engineering Group (Madras Sappers corps of engineers) Indian army as a commissioned officer. He holds the rank of Captain.

Early life

[edit]

Ignace Tirkey's younger brother Prabodh Tirkey also represented India in hockey. He is a product of Panposh Sports Hostel, Rourkela where he was spotted by Indian Army to help him pursue his career.

Career

[edit]

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. In club hockey, Tirkey played for Services.

He is most remembered for his goal that he scored between Pakistan's ace striker, Sohail Abbas's legs in the final minutes of 2003 Asia Cup final to give India the winning lead after both teams were locked at 2-2 (India eventually added a 4th goal in the last minute). The match won India its first gold in Asia Cups.[2]

Another highlight of his was in the Muruguppa Gold Cup in Aug 2001, where he scored a golden goal to win final, and thereafter in December 2002 during the National Games in Hyderabad.

Awards

[edit]
S.No. Awards Year
1 Padma Shree[3] 2010
2 Arjuna Award 2009
3 Ekalavya Puraskar 2003
4 Services Sportsman of the Year 2004

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "IHF ignores Dhanraj Pillay". The Hindu. 3 May 2004. Archived from the original on 4 June 2004. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  2. ^ "India win Asia Cup". Rediff. 28 September 2003. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
[edit]