Indian Hockey Men's Coach Harinder Singh calls for a foriegn Penalty Corner Specialist

Recently published news in one of the national dailies report that Indian Hockey Men's team Coach has expressed his eagerness to have over Dutch Penalty Corner Specialist Toon Siepman for sessions with the seniors and various othe clinics around the country.

I am no specialist to comment on whether the World Hockey is concentrating on Penalty Corner skills or Field Goals or to further comment on the expertise of Toon Siepman who charges a whopping amount of $375 per session - an amount which may not be easy to digest as per Indian Hockey standards.

However, I do see one thing very clearly: Breeze of Change.

The disastrous Ric Charlesworth episode must have left a really impression of Indian Hockey in the minds of World Hockey fraternity.

The same is also a reflection of the insecurity and closedness of many in Indian Hockey adminstration to the idea of a foriegn coach. I don't deny the fact that there is an element of pride involved in this, i.e. We, ourselves, are good enough then why do we need an outside coach.
Just that there is a very fine line between pride and ego.

Proceeding this, Harinder Singh talks about getting a penalty corner specialist from Holland. This, I feel, is an example of a progressive thinking. Somehow, I believe, the youth of the country stand a better chance to think ahead and think progressively.

Looking forward to more young thinkers like Harinder Singh ...

Carving a niche of her own-Anupama

Carving a niche of her own
Maxin Mathew
Bengaluru

An effervescent smile and a bubbly "Hi" greets me as I enter the KSHA hockey stadium. Still unsure whether this is the person I am supposed to meet, I introduce myself, in reply to which a strong handshake lays rest to my misconception. If it's true that looks can deceive, then Pachimanda Shivappa Anupama is a classic example of the adage.

An international female umpire in the gritty world of field hockey, Anupama has carved a niche of her own.

Standing at just about 5"3, in a Melbourne Commonwealth Games sweatshirt, Anupama pictures herself as a coy and reserved woman. But all this undergoes a major metamorphosis once she's at work on the field. "Shy? Me?" She laughed off my observation. "I guess you have to see me more in action during my matches," the 28-year-old said.

Being born and brought up in Coorg, the cradle of Indian hockey, Anupama is an ardent fan of the sport, thanks to her encouraging parents. "Women in sports itself is a big thing to get support for.

Umpiring in gruelling sports such as hockey takes on a whole new dimension. "It's all because of my parents' constant support that I have reached this stage where I can confidently look back and be happy for the things I have been able to do which other women couldn't," she added.

An attacking mid-fielder, Anupama represented Karnataka in the sub-junior and the senior women's National hockey championships. She also played for Mangalore University at the All-India Inter-University championships.

It was during these occasions that she began noticing the umpires. "Apart from being fascinated, I was curious as to how they handle the game. After a few chats with them I was interested in taking up umpiring," Anupama says.

In 2001, she took the KSHA umpiring exam which she cleared with flying colours. And soon thereafter, Anupama was officiating her first match at the Cheppudira family tournament. "It was my first match and I was extremely nervous. It took me a few matches to get more focussed and controlled," she said.

The biggest break in her career came when she was shortlisted by the Federation of International Hockey as the youngest umpire among the top ten men and women in the world. "It took me some time before I could come to terms with what I had achieved. Thrilling, exciting, exhilarating…it was a dream," Anupama reminisced.

Her international stint took shape in 2004, when she was selected to officiate the first Takamadonomiya Four-Nation Hockey tournament at Giffu, Japan. The Korean Television Six-Nation Hockey tournament at Seoul (2005), the Junior World Cup at Chile (2005), the East Asian Games at Macaw (2005), the Commonwealth Games at Melbourne (2006) and the Central American and Carribbean Games in the Dominican Republic (2006) are among the several international tournaments she has stood as an umpire. "Melbourne was really special. It's a big event with renowned sportspersons. It was simply great," Anupama recalled. In the national arena, a crucial decision in the 2005 National women's final between Railways and Haryana saw them being declared as joint winners. Upholding a controversial penalty decision, the Bengaluru lass faced the wrath of the Haryana team who surrounded her on the field in what was a highly-charged up final. "I was right then and I still stand by my decision. I judge by what I see and they (Haryana) were definitely at fault," the Namdhari Fresh employee said.

This year, she officiated as a neutral umpire at the Four-Nation hockey championships at Rotterdam, Holland and Bremen, Germany. "It was a great feeling, seeing my favourite Dutch players in action and officiating it. They were so humble and friendly with me and I had a fantastic time there," Anupama added. Anupama is headed for the Nehru Cup tournament at Punjab in a few days but she has a last piece of advice for aspiring female umpires. "There's definitely a place for women in umpiring and they are as qualified and talented as anybody else. If we provide them with the right opportunities and the right exposure that their male counterparts get, they can work wonders," she signed off.
(Part version of the same article was published in Asian Age a few days back)

It will be IOCL v BCPL for the championship

KSHA Super Division League, Bangalore is all set for a final match extravanganza. With Army Red securing 3rd place, IOCL and BPCL will fight for the laurels today at Sports Authority of India(SAI), South Center, Kengeri, Bangalore.
IOCL leading by a goal margin of 26 goals compared to 19 of BPCL, they just need a draw today.
However, defending champions BPCL needs nothing less than a win to retain the championship.

KSHA Super Division League-Points Table

The points table at the KSHA Super Division as of today, with Canara Bank drawing with Army Red 4-4 and Army Green beating KSP, stands as follows:

Looks like it will be boil down to the last match between IOCL v BPCL to decide who wins the league. Army Red more or less set for the 3rd place in this year's league.

Karnataka Super Division League-Points Table

The Points Table, as of today, for Karnataka Super Division League is as follows:
The Super Division League is being conducted at Sports Authority Of India (SAI), South Center, Kengeri in Bangalore. The tournament is being conducted by Karnataka State Hockey Association (KSHA).

An evening with M K Kaushik

After some hit and trails, I finally met M K Kaushik, current Indian Womens' Hockey team coach.
Yet another, down to earth person, who lives for his passion, Hockey, Kaushik saheb comes across as a person who has a lot to say about the System of whom he is a part of but doesn't forget the most important lessons of life, which many of us forget many times, i.e. Laugh and smile keeps one young all the time.
While talking to him, I realized how easy it is for people to comment that Hockey personnels are always involved in negative publicity of the game whereas the reality is sometimes extremely painful to even listen.
Eager to hear what the other person has to share, Kaushik saheb is simplicity personified. Carrying no air of a national level coach or Deputy Director of Haryana Sports Department, Kaushik saheb, knows how to connect to people immediately.
With a gesture of hospitality, Kaushik himself got up and offered us some cold drinks.
I feel at an age of 50+ people resist 'change' but disputing this (mis)conception of mine, Kaushik saheb has no qualms in admitting that he doesn't know much about the Internet World. However, reflecting the true trait of a coach, his next line is, "But I am eager to learn more of it and have sent a few emails successfully in the past few days."
Sharing the good old times, when he was a player, the times when he was the coach at the Bangkok Asiad in 1998, the turbulent times after the writing of "The Golden Boot" to his experiences with Indian Womens' Hockey team, his dealings with the adminstration, his work for Chak De India movie, it was a celebration to spend a couple of hours with one of most respected persons of Hockey personality - Maharaj Krishan Kaushik - A person, who has attempted his best, amongst severe pressure from all spheres, to live for only one thing: Hockey.
Long live passionate people like him.

A day at the Super Division League Bangalore

20km away from home, with hot weather on a partly sunny Saturday, I somehow managed to reach the SAI Center(South), Kengeri, Bangalore, at around 1310 hours.
My mentor, Shanmugham ji, was playing for Canara Bank in the Super Division League Match against Fortis.
The game scheduled for 1300 hrs had already begun. I must say these guys were on schedule! The score was 0-0. Although, the view on the SAI turf's sidelines is not the best of ones but still I enjoyed watching the quick movement of the players sometimes on my side, sometimes on the other flank.
All this while, I couldn't believe that there was no spectator on this side of the turf. I was the lone one and when Canara Bank scored their first goal, I could hear the echo of my clapping!
It's understandable that SAI turf is a training turf and doesn't attract crowd in anyway. Some adminsitrative reasons didn't leave the organisers (KSHA) with any other option but to host the tournament at SAI, Kengeri.
As the game progressed, and so did the heat, I recognized Ajitesh, Sandeep Micheal and our own, Diwakar Ram, playing for the Fortis.
The most enjoyable sight of Hockey players is the fact that Hockey players are representatives of common public. They are so down to earth and modest that it makes you fall in love with the whole environment itself.
For me, on this day, watching Shanmugham ji, as a player, was different. I realized that an individual on the turf and outside the ground are completely different.
During the game, while defending a short corner (read it as, drag flick from Diwakar Ram) got the a ball on his chest. He collapsed for a minute. A stroke was awarded but Shanmugham ji was struggling to stand straight. I was concerned. But things settled for the better when he has substituted.
As the half time came in, I crossed over to the other side of the turf to just see what goes on at the players benches during this break. While walking, I was greeting by a known person who asked me, with sheer surprise and unbelieveable expression, "Here, to see Shanu play?". I just said, 'Yeah'.
Next question was, 'Do you live close by?". I said, "No!"
I wondered how come Hockey fraternity doesn't believe that there are some fans who just come to watch matches!
The scene at the players bench was a little low profile. A match at 1300 hours, with sun right on the top, it looked as if the players were not only sapped off of their physical energy but mental energy as well.
Khalid ji, the coach, was not his usual high as I have seen him in previous Canara Bank matches.
Checking with Shanu ji if he is OK, I moved on back to my original position to watch the second half.
As the Bankers trailed by 1-3, and 15m into the second half, I saw some players, with their kit on their shoulders, walk to benches where I was sitting. They were hulks and they were chit chatting about normal daily life Hockey related things. It was the IOCL team. They were supposed to play against ASC (Army Service Corps). I could immediately recognize Prabhjot Singh, Inderjeet Chaddha, Bharat Chikkara, Baljit Singh, Deedara Singh, Raghunath, Vikram Kanth , physio Srikanth and the coach Devesh Chauhan.
It was a star packed team.
Seeing their built and personality, I felt so scared that I couldn't say a word. For a moment, I felt like they may tell me to get lost from the benches where I was sitting.
As they cracked jokes, I realized how warm at heart they were. One of them casually asked me, 'What the score was?'.
I said, '3-1, Fortis leads".
They dressed up and moved on for their warm up exercises but I was completely thrilled.
The national levels players didn't carry any attitude with them. I was at an arms distance from them.
They talked the way I do. They all were humans and as modest as I am, possibly. I fell in love with their personality.
Canara Bank lost to Fortis 1-4.

Later on, I met few more people whom I know by face in Hockey circles. There was an expression of indigestion on their faces that I have come to watch a Hockey match.

By this time, with IOCL in their armor were taking on ASC, the BPCL and Namdharis also arrived. At one moment, Tushar Khandekar crossed me and I was about to stop him attempting to talk to him for a minute but 1 second delay in uttering his name and he sprinted away. I was a little shy at that moment.

I talked to some children who had come down to support Namdharis'. They told that their parents work in Namdhari Seeds and they have come to support their team. It was a delight to talk to those children. I asked him with curiosity, " aap bhi Hockey khelte ho?" and came a prompt reply, 'haan ji, main under-16 ki state team mein hoon" (yes, I am in the under-16 state team).
I am surely loving the game by the day.
With a final round of Hockey talk with Shanmugham ji, I called it a day. His last line, although, not new to me, but definitely was for Mahesh, (who joined me during the game), took us by surprise. He said, "It's nice to see supporters, like you, come this far. Who comes to see a Hockey matches these days?"
I came home with a headache (because of heat) that lasted for close to 24 hours, but it was a day I enjoyed and will make sure that I will go to watch a few more matches.
I think I will sum up by this line: I am here to stay! :)