Dilip Tirkey Undergoes Ankle Surgery in Australia
Once the main forces of Indian hockey, former captain Dilip Tirkey is a hockey player-turned-politician these days and is the leader of BJD party from Sundargarh.
Former India hockey captain and Rajya Sabha member Dilip Tirkey has undergone ankle surgery at Sportsmed SA, a premier sports medicine institute in Adelaide, Australia.
Tirkey, the highest capped (412 international matches) Indian player, was forced to retire from the game prematurely due to ankle problems.
He underwent the bilateral surgery on May 28 but will stay in Adelaide for rehabilitation for two more weeks.
"I was in severe pain and there was constant swelling in my ankles. I was unable to participate even in minor sporting activities. My doctor Vaibhav Bagaria from Care Hospital, Nagpur reviewed my condition and advised surgery at priority basis to prevent further damage," Tirkey told PTI Bhasha.
"Then we took the decision to get my ankles operated in Sportsmed in Adelaide as it is a famous orthopaedic and sports injury centre," he said.
Tirkey recently contested Lok Sahha election on a BJD ticket from Sundargarh, Odisha but lost to Jual Oram of BJP.