Having been associated with the Nilgiris since 1967 while playing for the Tamil Nadu team and being part of the Indian contingent which was here, particularly Lovedale, in 1968 for a per olympic selection cum conditioning camp, Mr. Sait knows what he is talking about.

“Though I have been to many places, I am yet to come across a place as suitable as Wellington for setting up a high altitude training facility for hockey,” he says while dwelling on the past, present and future of hockey in India. He feels that if a synthetic surface can be provided at Wellington or nearby Aruvankadu it would do a world of good to Indian hockey. While the conditions were ideal the participants can concentrate on the job at hand without having to bother about distractions.

Underscoring the importance of a synthetic surface, Mr. Sait said that to be in the reckoning players should not only be skilful but also sturdy. To a question,he said that the ideal age for starting training on synthetic surface was eight.

Reflecting on the state of affairs vis a vis Indian hockey, the former Olympian said: “The day the team failed to qualify for the Beijing olympics was the saddest in my life.”

What lies ahead for Indian hockey?

He said that though the game is now gasping for breath, concerted efforts can restore it to its former glory. Adverting to the 2010 World Cup, which was scheduled to be held in New Delhi, Mr. Sait expressed the hope that it would revive spectator interest in the game.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail