http://epaper2.mid-day.com/showtext.aspx?boxid=65548333&parentid=181761&issuedate=09092012&edd123=mumbai
Sticking by hockey
An RTI query recently revealed that hockey is not our national sport,
but enthusiasts in the city aren't letting that affect them. A turf in
Kandivli, a new school team and a brand new committee at the Mumbai
Hockey Association, all hark a new beginning for the sport
September 09, 2012
Mumbai
Moeena Halim
Remember the buzz Chak De! India had created about hockey? The
much-lauded 2007 film did its bit for the sport, but the excitement
was short-lived. The Olympic hockey team's dismal performance in
London certainly didn't help. Not to mention the embarrassing politics
between the two hockey associations of India, Hockey India (HI) and
the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF).
Mir Ranjan Negi
Mir Ranjan Negi with hockey players from Abhi Foundation at the Don
Bosco Shelter, Matunga. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar
Fortunately, perhaps thanks to our Olympic failure, the formerly
pro-IHF Mumbai Hockey Association (MHA) seems to have kept politics
aside this year. In the first week of August, a new committee was
announced, which includes members from HI too. Mir Ranjan Negi, former
national hockey player, best known for coaching the Chak De! India
girls, is a prime example.
Glamourising hockey
Earlier this year, just before Mumbai hosted the World Hockey Series,
the MHA ground at Churchgate was given a revamp. "We installed new
floodlights and laid out a brand new world-class Astroturf," says
Gurbax Singh, former secretary of the MHA. Singh, who is now an
honorary member of the association, says he refused to contest the
elections this year.
Virendra Bhandarkar
Virendra Bhandarkar stands in front of the Sports Authority of India's
new hockey turf in Kandivli (East). Pic/Suresh KK
Negi, on the other hand, is visibly excited about being on the
committee. He has several plans to bring in "fun, entertainment and
glamour" to the game. "Currently the game is not exciting enough for
youngsters. They find practice too dull," he confesses. The
committee, he claims, has a two-fold plan to fix this. Firstly, there
will be an increase in tournaments. "We plan to bring back all the old
tournaments we used to host, including the Aga Khan Cup and the Gold
Cup. Competitions will give upcoming players something to look forward
to," he opines. To top this off, Negi plans to introduce a touch of
Bollywood to the sport. "I have a lot of friends in the industry. I
will invite Shah Rukh Khan, Sonu Nigam and others to add some
entertainment value," he says, adding that the World Series Hockey was
lacking the much-needed glamour quotient.
Turfs in the city
Apart from MHA's Churchgate turf, there are two other turfs in the
city. "Fr Agnel School in Navi Mumbai has an Astroturf and Sports
Authority of India (SAI) has one in Kandivli (East)," adds Negi. He
feels that the next step would be to introduce one in the
hockey-loving Bandra or Matunga area.
SAI's Kandivli turf, which was opened up to the public last year in
October, has encouraged city schools to take up the game. "Jamnabai
Narsee, Children's Academy, St Augustine and St John's School have
been using the turf since October or November last year," reveals
Virendra Bhandarkar, assistant director of SAI.
Mumbai Hockey Association
The Mumbai Hockey Association (MHA) got an artificial turf laid out
before hosting the World Hockey Series earlier this year. Pic/Suresh
KK
"The turf can be used free of cost," adds Olympian Rahul Singh, who
coaches part time at SAI. Compared to MHA's turf, which can cost you
up to Rs 3,000 for two hours, SAI's facility comes as manna to hockey
enthusiasts in the city. "It was the need of the hour," believes
Bhandarkar about the easy-to-maintain turf. "Mumbai seriously lacks
the infrastructure. Unlike football or cricket, hockey cannot be
played just anywhere. If you play hockey in open areas, it could
result in serious accidents," he adds. Get hit by a hockey stick or
ball and you could be severely injured.
School kids take up the stick
Earlier this year, Juhu's Jamnabai Narsee School finally set up a
boy's hockey team. Former Indian women's hockey team captain, Sybil
Miranda (nee D'Mello), held a hockey camp for the school's children
three years ago. "Barely three or four kids turned up," she says. But
the children who attended it enjoyed themselves, encouraging the
school to introduce the game into their curriculum. "Gradually, more
and more children signed up and we were able to form a girl's team.
This year, they managed to beat the St Andrew's College team in the
under-17 category," she says proudly. The boy's team will compete in
the upcoming season.
Training is conducted every weekend and on public holidays. "Once or
twice a month, the children are taken to Kandivli's new turf to
practice," she adds. "The turf helps to maintain higher fitness
levels. If the children are trained on turf, a 70-minute game on grass
becomes far easier for them," says Miranda.
Fourteen year-old Jamnabai students Sach Chabria and Aashumi Shah are
thrilled to have the opportunity to play this 'glorious sport'. "It's
exciting to be taught by an Olympian," says Chabria. "Our family and
friends are very proud that we play hockey," adds Shah, adding that
they plan to continue to play the sport for as long as they can.
Grassroots level
"The right time for players to be coached is 14 to 15 years. Currently
the average age is 24 to 25 years, which is too late to receive
beginner's training," says Negi, who believes that Michael Nobbs, the
coach for the Indian Olympic team cannot be blamed for their dismal
performance. Getting the players at the grassroots level is the only
solution, feels Negi, who seems to be walking the talk. The Abhi
Foundation, which he founded in 2007, has helped train underprivileged
children across the city. In February, the foundation set up an
academy in Mahul village near Chembur.
"Over 250 children from fishing families are trained to play hockey,
football and athletics on a ground allotted by the BMC," says Ahmed
Naqvi, CEO of Abhi Foundation. As far as Mumbai schools are concerned,
the hockey scene has been largely dominated by missionary schools,
believes Negi. Perhaps Jamnabai's initiative to promote hockey will
help spread enthusiasm among other schools as well. "Until the Indian
government begins work on a war footing, hockey's future seems bleak.
Just a little more effort, and Indian hockey will enter the golden age
again," promises Negi. We can only wait with bated breath.
No national sport
We've all been taught that hockey is India's national sport in school.
But it could only take a curious little 10 year-old to reveal that the
government had never officially made such a declaration. Aishwarya
Parashar filed an RTI query to find out when hockey had been named the
national sport. The response she got early last month from the Union
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports surprised her, and the entire
nation. Hockey aside, there is no official record to state that the
country has a national sport at all
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