India pull off a spectacular win at the 18th Edition of Sultan Azlan Shah Cup at Ipoh, Malaysia.

India pull off a spectacular win at the 18^th Edition of Sultan Azlan Shah Cup at Ipoh, Malaysia.

 Making a superb display of speed and execution of planning on the field, the Indian hockey team on Sunday beat the host Malaysia team by 3-1 to lift the 18th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup at Ipoh, Malaysia.

With a display that underlined the efficacy and elegance of frontline forays, India regained the glittering Sultan Azlan Shah Cup after a hiatus of 13 years with a 3-1 victory over Malaysia amidst a festival ambience in the international hockey tournament here on Sunday. The winner led 2-1 at halftime.

This was India’s fourth cup win, the three others coming in 1985, 1991 and in 1995.

India, on a redemption journey after last year's Olympic debacle, is presently on a high after a recent run of success at home and Down Under, including the runners-up finish at the Punjab Gold Cup in Chandigarh.

This victory, should prove to be stepping stone to greater success, and take Indian Hockey, to its glorious place.

 The only sad thing was that we Indians did not turn in huge numbers, to welcome the victorious Hockey Team, on its return from Ipoh, Malaysia. For a change, the media was in full strength. However, the TV Coverage could have been more attractive. This would have also given the much needed break, from continuous Election Coverage.

 Cheers to India

Topic of the Week-Bravo SV Sunil – A Superlative Hockey Player.

Topic of  the Week-Bravo SV Sunil – A Superlative Hockey Player.

            Today morning, was going through the Bangalore Edition of  today’s i.e5th April, 2009, Deccan Chronicle, and a small article on the last page attraced me.

It stated ‘SUNIL BRAVES PERSONAL TRAGEDY’.

A closer look at it, stated that SV Sunil’s( a star performer of the current Indian Hockey Team), father had expired in Kodagu, Karnatka. And, SV Sunil, preferred to stay back  with the Indian Hockey Team, currently in Malaysia, for the The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. The main reason, was by the time, SV Sunil, reached Kodagu, Karnatka, the final rites would have been over. 

            BRAVO SUNIL, YOUR DAD WILL BE PROUD OF YOU, and I too Salute, your commitment to Indian Hockey.

            Indian Hockey fans, will be thankful, for your sacrifice.

 The Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is an annual field hockey tournament held in Malaysia. It began in 1983 as a biennial contest. The tournament became an annual event after 1998, following its growth and popularity. The tournament is named after the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) of Malaysia, Sultan Azlan Shah, an avid fan of field hockey. 

The clan of Kodavas in the Indian state of Karnataka have a long history of association with the game of field hockey. The district of Kodagu which is the land of the Kodavas is considered as the cradle ofIndian hockey. More than 50 Kodavas have represented India in international hockey tournaments, out of which 7 have also participated in Olympics. B P Govinda, M P Ganesh, M M Somaiya, C S Poonacha and Arjun Halappa are some of the prominent Kodavas who have represented India. The passion for hockey in Kodagu is so much that more than 200 families participate in an annual hockey festival. This festival is recognised as one of the largest field hockey tournaments in the world and has been referred to the Guinness Book of Records. The Kodava hockey festival was started in the year 1997 and was the brainchild of 69 year old Pandanda Kuttappa who was a first division hockey referee and an ex-employee of State Bank of India. He conceived the idea of creating a platform in which the different Kodava families can get together. Realising the passion of hockey in Kodagu, he decided that a hockey festival would be a good event to bring Kodavas together. He also chose the hockey festival because he was disturbed about the growth of junior hockey players from Kodagu.