Ray of hope from Telangana Hockey

Navabharat XI dazzle

Continuing Saturday’s trend wherein an exciting 5-0 win posted by Ashok XI over Gachibowli, Sunday saw the holiday crowd treated to a near-complete domination by players from Navabharat XI in the ongoing SATS Super Cup prize-money invitation tournament, organised by SATS and Telangana Hockey, at Gymkhana Ground.

Aided by a lively hat-trick by Mahinder Kiran and three braces, the team virtually toyed with the hapless St Peter’s Academy 10-1.

In Monday’s lone match, Mohammaden Sporting will take on Young trucks from 3pm.

Results- Ashok XI 5 bt Gachibowli 0; Navabharat XI 10 (Mahinder Kiran 3, Arvind, Prakash Singh and A Ganesh Singh-all two each and Suresh Singh) bt St Peter’s Academy 1 (Bhupinder Singh)

The hockey ground housed inside the Gymkhana presented a welcome sight to the beholder and more so to sport’s old-timers and connoisseurs Saturday evening. The redeeming aspect is that this is going to be a regular feature, hereafter.

From what seemed like a rundown space till the other where one could get to see only a handful players sticking it out in a rather mundane mechanical manner, here were enthusiastic boys and girls, all of guts and glory, under the watchful eyes of triple Olympian N Mukesh Kumar and the equally passionate coach S Surinder Singh.

If things work according to the blueprint that has been drawn then one could hope for a rejuvenated presence at the hockey ground, which in course of time, raises hopes of a major fillip in the popularity charts, particularly among the younger lot.

Stating that this was the mission conceptualised for Telangana Hockey, its President and General Secretary, K Amarandhar Reddy and Mukesh Kumar, stated that they would go all out and leave no stone unturned to tap young talents, particularly at the school and grassroot levels. They said that their New Year resolve was provided the icing on the cake on December 22 when Hockey India overwhelmingly endorsed its affiliation to the dedicated team that will aspire to revive the fortunes in Telangana State.

The evening spread good tidings all around. For starters the TH logo was unveiled on the occasion. To prove that they mean business and that they were here on a mission that would see them survive the challenges that lie ahead, they launched a league-cum-knockout Invitation Prize-Money Hockey Tournament-2016, which began on rollicking note. Reddy announced that the winning team would be richer by Rs 10, 101 while the runner-up will receive Rs 5, 101.

Recalling that he developed a fascination for hockey while watching some matches in Australia, the Mahaboobnagar native explained that on meeting the former India captain they firmed up the decision to float an entity that could rekindle the passion for hockey across the ten districts of the State. He said efforts were on to start district-wise associations that would be under the stewardship of committed persons.

Apart from the 200 sticks that they intend to distribute to the budding talent, he said they had received a shot in the arm when Mukesh’s partner in several demolition acts, Dhanraj Pillay had agreed to give 100 of his own besides coming over conducting clinics at periodical intervals.

Mukesh expressing his delight that Reddy, and IT entrepreneur, had agreed to pitch in with financial support in the noble endeavour, said that they would be conducting camps at various districts headquarters besides conducting age-group tournaments

Towards taking the initiative forward, TH will be organising an inter-district championship for men and women at Karimnagar in the second week of February under the auspices of the district unit. This would be significant as the State men and women team that will be participating in the April and May nationals would be selected based on the individual performances at Karimnagar. A proposal to organise a major event in Nizamabad is also in the pipeline.

Mukesh Kumar said that they wished to change the mindset of hockey players and ensure that they dream big and achieve their goals over a period of time. Amarandhar Reddy echoed similar sentiments and went a step further while pointing out that he wished to produce players from the State who would don the national colours and think in terms of Asian Games, NHL and Commonwealth Games.

Meanwhile, they announced the panel that will steer the fortunes of Telangana Hockey. Ofice-bearers: Chairman-designate: Kalvakuntla Kavitha; President: K Amarandhar Reddy; Vice-President: S Surinder Singh; General Secretary: N Mukesh Kumar; Joint Secretary: N Nidhi; Treasurer: Alphonse Lazarus: Executive Members: Gyan Chand and Akella Kasi.

Players, young and old, coaches and administrators are all on a common mission-to ensure that 2016 will herald and serve as the launching pad for the revival and consolidation of happier times for hockey.