Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 24, 2026

Ignace Tirkey

Ignacious "Ignace" Tirkey is an Indian field hockey player. He plays as a fullback and has captained the Indian team.

Last revised
Jul 24, 2026
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≈ 2 min
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Ignacious Tirkey
Personal information
Born (1981-05-10) 10 May 1981
Lulkidihi, Sundergarh, Odisha, India
Sport
SportField hockey
PositionFullback
Senior career
Years Team Caps Goals
Services - -
2005–? Chennai Veerans - -
2007–2008 Orissa Steelers - -
National team
Years Team Caps Goals
2001–2012 India 250+ -

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 Major.2

Early life

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

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 a goal that he scored through 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.3

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

Awards

S.No. Awards Year
1 Padma Shree4 2010
2 Arjuna Award 2009
3 Ekalavya Puraskar 2003
4 Services Sportsman of the Year 2004
5 Vishisht Seva Medal5 2005
References

References

  1. "IHF ignores Dhanraj Pillay". The Hindu. 3 May 2004. Archived from the original on 4 June 2004. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
  2. "Meet Major Ignace Tirkey: From Soldier to Olympic Hockey Player and Army Officer". SSBCrack.com. 2024.
  3. "India win Asia Cup". Rediff. 28 September 2003. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  4. "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  5. "Gazette of India Notification April 09 2005" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
External links