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Hockey crying for attention in Koraput

Correspondent

KORAPUT: Hockey has been thrown into the back seat in Koraput district for the last many years. Koraput had brought many laurels in the game for the State, Lokonath Dalai, veteran hockey player of Koraput, said. Remembering his days with legendary Dhayanchand during the coaching camps in 1951, he said Dhyanchand too had seen great days for the game in Orissa even in those days. But because of the constant neglect by the authorities and lack of interest in the young generation, hockey has lost its flavour in the district. Primarily the sport was promoted by the district police who had encouraged the civilians to play with them by offering hockey bats to them.

Many young players including schoolchildren had come up and brought good name for the district. The ground they had played was named after the game. But today the hockey ground in the heartland of Koraput town is neglected just like the game. Recipient of Meritorious Service medal from the then President in 1969, legendary hockey player and a national champion in Decathlon, Lokonath Dalai in his late seventies is keen on bringing at least one talented sportsman, one little Dhyanchand from the district to the front who could truly devote himself towards the game.

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