New Delhi: Elena Norman, the CEO of Hockey India, has resigned from her position after 13 years as the head of the country’s men’s and women’s hockey teams.
Norman had been at the helm of the Indian hockey federation since 2006. During her tenure, the team soared to great heights, achieving career-best world rankings.
Under Norman’s leadership, Hockey India hosted two consecutive editions of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup in 2018 and 2023. It also played host to two FIH Junior Men’s World Cup in 2016 and 2021. Additionally, the country successfully hosted five editions of the Hockey India League, a franchise-based league that provides an opportunity for young players to rub shoulders with some of the world’s most elite hockey stars.
Under Norman’s leadership, Hockey India also took strides in promoting women’s hockey, providing them with facilities equal to those provided to the men’s team. This resulted in the team qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics, a historic feat for the country as it was the first time in 36 years that the Indian women’s hockey team had qualified for the Olympic Games.
Norman was also at the forefront of developing the Hockey India Coaches Education Pathway, which provides domestic coaches with international standards of coaching practices.