Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], June 22 (ANI): Former Indian hockey captain Dilip Tirkey, on Friday, lashed out at Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore for stating that no official proclamation was required to give national status to the game.

Reflecting on the same, Tirkey said, "It is sad that being a sportsperson himself, Sports Minister Rajyavardhana Rathore commented that there is no need for official notification in this regard."

Echoing the views of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Tirkey said that we should talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and give hockey the status of national game as soon as possible.

Speaking highly of the game, the former defender said that hockey played a major role in giving an identity to the nation at world level and there was no harm in providing national status to the game.

It is worth noticing that hockey has been the sport which has handed the most number of medals to the country, including eight gold medals, one silver and two bronze medals in Olympics.

On a related note, the much-anticipated Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup is slated to be held from November 28 to December 16 at the iconic Kalinga Hockey Stadium. (ANI)

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