Ignace Tirkey

Ignace Tirkey is an Indian field Hockey player. He has captained the Indian team. He also serves the Madras Engineering Group (Madras Sappers Corps of Engineers) Indian army as a commissioned officer. He holds the rank of Captain.
Born on May 10, 1981, in the Sundergarh district of Orissa, Ignace is typical of other players from the region – quietly aggressive on the field without resorting to physical intimidation. Ignace spent his formative years at the Pamposh Sports Hostel and Birsa Munda High School in Rourkela. He joined Madras Engineering Group as havildar in 1998 and represented Services at the Chennai and Bangalore Junior Nationals and the Jammu Senior Nationals before making his national debut in 2001.
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 the Indian team that participated in the Athens Olympics in 2004, where India finished seventh. In club hockey, Tirkey played for Services. Later on, the Indian government nominated him for the Padmashri Award. (Collected from the public domain)