Category Archives: Sports

Anas bags gold at Taipei City

Sports, World Opinion, , , , ,

KERALA :

Taipei City:

Muhammed Anas and Om Prakash Karhana.
Muhammed Anas and Om Prakash Karhana.

India had won seven medals in the first leg on April 24 and six (1 gold, 4 silver, 1 bronze) in the second leg.

Muhammed Anas got over the disappointment of missing out on the first two legs of the Asian Grand Prix and won the 400m gold in the third leg here on Sunday with an impressive 45.69s, just 0.19s off the World Championships qualifying time.

This was the national record holder’s first race of the season after he and M.R. Poovamma were denied visas by China for the Asian GP’s two earlier legs in Jinhua and Jiaxing.

“I missed the qualification time narrowly but it will come soon,” the 22-year-old, whose national record of 45.40s in Poland last year earned him a Rio Olympics slot, told The Hindu over phone.

Om Prakash Karhana, also a National record holder, won the shot put gold with a 19.58m.

Jinson Johnson and Asian champion Tintu Luka were both beaten at the tape and had to settle for silver in the men’s and women’s 800m.

Dutee Chand in the 100m and National record holder in shot-put Manpreet Kaur were the others to win silver medals. Dutee’s 11.52s was her season’s best.

Neeraj Chopra, the under-20 World champion who qualified for the World Championships with an 82.32m at the second leg in Jiaxing three days ago, took the men’s javelin bronze while Asian Games bronze medallist Poovamma picked up the women’s 400m bronze in 53.11s.

The results: Men: 100m: 1. Haiyang Xu (Chn) 10.35s, 2. Yaspi Boby (Ina) 10.39, 3, Saad Hassan (Mdv) 10.40; 8. S. Vidyasagar (Ind) 11.18. 400m: Muhammed Anas (Ind) 45.69s, 2. Cong Lich Quach (Vie) 46.66, 3. Mikhail Litvin (Kaz) 47.03. 800m:1. Indunil M. Herath (Sri) 1:51.34s, 2. Jinson Johnson (Ind) 1:51.35, 3. Mostafa Ebrahimi (Iri) 1:52.66. Triple jump: 1. Shu Cao (Chn) 16.21m, 2. Pratchaya Tepparak (Tha) 15.89, 3. Kuei-Lung Li (Tpe) 15.85; 5. Rakesh Babu (Ind) 15.72. Javelin: 1. Huang Shih-Feng (Tpe) 80.77m, 2. Chao-Tsun Cheng (Tpe) 79.93, 3. Neeraj Chopra (Ind) 79.90; 5. Ravinder Singh Khaira (Ind) 73.81. Shot put: 1. Om Prakash Singh (Ind) 19.58m, 2. Jiaxing Wu (Chn) 19.21, 3. Ali Samari (Iri) 18.68.

Women: 100m: 1. Viktoriya Zyabkina (Kaz) 11.34s, 2. Dutee Chand (Ind) 11.52, 3. Tu Chinh Le (Vie) 11.74; 10. Reena George (Ind) 12.21. 400m: 1. Elina Mikhina (Kaz) 52.55s, 2. Thi Lan Quach (Vie) 52.96, 3. M.R. Poovamma (53.11). 800m: 1. Gayanthika Thushari (Sri) 2:03.87s, 2. Tintu Luka (Ind) 2:03.97, 3. Nimali Waliwarsha (Sri) 2:06.30. Long jump: 1. Thi Thu Thao Bui (Vie) 6.41m, 2. Xu Xiao Ling (Chn) 6.35, 3. Liou Ya-Jyun (Tpe) 6.30, 4. V. Neena (Ind) 6.24. Shot put: 1. Jia Yuan Song (Chn) 17.46m, 2. Manpreet Kaur (Ind) 17.38, 3. Eki Febri Ekawati (Ina) 15.16.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sport> Athletics / by Sport Bureau / Taipei City – April 30th, 2017

Riyaz, Joel star in JK Tyre Vroom final day

Sports, , , , , , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA / Bengaluru, KARNATAKA   :

Bengaluru :

“I have come straight from a good stint in Hosur and was feeling good,” Riyaz said “I was confident of a good outing and right from the start of the race, I knew that I was on a roll,” he added

Hyderabad’s  Mohammed Riyaz and Bengaluru’s   Joel Joseph did the star turn in the JK Tyre Vroom Quarter- Mile Rush, winning the Super Bikes and Super Cars categories with elan here today.

Riyaz, a runner-up in the National Drag Racing Championship, was supreme in the Unrestricted Open Class, completing the 400 metre dash in just 9.869 seconds.

Racing on his favourite Yamaha RD 7, his reaction time was an amazing 0.507 seconds at the start that give him an unbeatable edge over all the competitors.

“I have come straight from a good stint in Hosur and was feeling good,” Riyaz said. “I was confident of a good outing and right from the start of the race, I knew that I was on a roll,” he added.

“I know my bike very well and I had full faith in myself. I really enjoyed myself,” Riyaz said, when asked about his victory.

In the four-wheeler Unrestricted Class, local boy Joel was a picture of confidence in his Honda City Turbo Dragster. He won the race handsomely as excited fans cheered him on, needing just 12.763 seconds with a great reaction time to clinch the title and all the bragging rights.

Joel reigned supreme in the Indian Open as well to make it a grand double. He clocked a total time of 12.673 seconds which was beyond all the others’ reach.

“I am very satisfied with both my runs today. Coming to the event as a defending champion gave me that confidence and I always knew I had a great chance,” Joel said.

Earlier, Riyaz looked good for the championship mantle in the speedy 851 to 1051cc Class as well, after having clocked 9.912 seconds. But seasoned Rizwan Khan  pulled off a sensational run, recording the quickest time of the day: 9.677 seconds.

“It was an amazing performance by Rizwan,” the Hyderabadi said, graciously acknowledging his friend-cum-rival’s victory. In the super sport Indian Open, Kaleem Pasha of Bengaluru proved to be the king, taking the title in flat 11.778 seconds.

Nidha Adeni of Bangalore, the only lady racer on the second day of the JK Tyre Vroom event, finished a commendable fifth in the Indian Cars’ 1101-1400 cc category.

source:  http://www.outlookindia.com / Outlook / Bengaluru – April 30th, 2017

Srinagar woman runs the only bat unit in city

Business & Economy, Sports, , , , ,

Srinagar, JAMMU & KASHMIR :

RifatJanMPOs25apr2017

Srinagar

Close to the Alam Sahib’s shrine in Narwara, Rifat Jan lives like any other Kashmiri woman. However there is one aspect which makes her special. Rifat runs the only bat manufacturing unit in the city by the name of Masoodi Arts and Sports.
 “I couldn’t have done this without my husband. He gave me all the support I needed,’’ said a beaming  Rifat. “ At first I was reluctant to start the unit as my husband cannot run it for being a government employee,  but I made up my mind and decided to give it a shot. Since then we have come a long way.”
Rifat’s husband, Showkat Masoodi, who is the coach of the Forest Department’s football team and also runs a football academy ,says that at first she needed a lot of help but now he just fixes minor glitches. “I cannot do a business as I am a government employee. More than that, I am a coach and I have to give time to the academy also. All my time goes with my official and coaching assignments,’’ said Masoodi.
The unit also boasts to sell bats under its own brand name MAS, which is unusual in the valley. However, almost all the 10,000 pieces, mostly tennis ball bats, which they produce per-year are sent to other states of the India. The reason for that, as the couple says is lack of sports infrastructure and sporting culture at the grass root level.
Rifat informs that when the unit started in 1996, things were slow. The only way to increase the sales was to uphold quality. “At that time we used to send bats to Chennai (then Madras). We knew that if we want to make a mark, quality has to be exceptional. And we did that. Now by the grace of Allah, our product is being used in Mumbai, Delhi and many other places.”
She also pointed out that they are the only ones who sell by their own name. “In Kashmir by and large, semi finish bats are produced. That means the producers send the product to companies without stickers and then they sell them under their own name. But we have our own brand, our own identity, “she said adding that the response has been above expectations.
“When people see our bats outside, they do ask the dealer where it was manufactured. When they hear Kashmir, they are a little bit surprised as almost every unit here sells semi-finish bats not an own brand like us.”
Rifat also feels that her unit has almost no competition in the valley. “Competition is there but outside, not here. Our product has competition from big companies like DCS, who manufacture good tennis bats,’’she says.
They even got a call from a dealer in Meerut who was ready to pay more than the market rate for a semi finished product. “We said no. We cannot sell our product under any other name. It has to be MAS, “ said Rifat.
Rifat also mentioned that Kashmir not being the market is not as kids don’t play but the state of infrastructure and lack of sports at school level. “In Kashmir, we don’t have a big market. And the reason is not that kids don’t play cricket. It’s the environment which matters. Look at the grounds here. How many do we have.  In Mumbai, a coach is compulsory, which makes sports compulsory. There are school tournaments held on regular intervals. We don’t see such environment here.  Sometimes I wonder people  who are solely dependent on sports how do they meet ends.”
She added that because of such level of gaming at the school level Mumbai is her biggest market. “Our biggest market is off course in Mumbai. It’s the hub of cricket. And they have this grass root culture. Kids start playing at a young age and then that talent gets honed in schools which provide them with that environment. There are so many academies there who need bats. What do we have here? Amar Singh club and I don’t see anything else on a big scale. Forget academies, point out a school where after regular classes a coach comes a teaches a bunch of 50 kids.”
Job motivation for sportsmen
Masoodi, her husband voices her concern and says that football in the valley faces similar problems.
 “Earlier there was a team of almost every government department here. So it was very good for everyone. Now talented players are jobless. If a department has no team then what would he do? Now tell me how many can JK Bank and Forest accommodate?, “ asks Masoodi, who also runs Iddgah Fooball Academy.
He added, “ If a player is good and he wants to make a career how can he do it without a job. Government should look into it. Even if they accommodate four boys in every department in a year and keep a sports quota, like it is everywhere then it can be a huge motivator.”
Masoodi, who took over as the coach of Forest XI in 2012, says that there is abundant talent in the valley however, they lack incentives and motivation due to a bleak future. “ After I took over as coach Forests’ team has won every tournament. They even defeated the powerful JK Bank team recently. But the players are still contractual employees. They wonder why this happens to them. This dents their morale. Our players have played Santosh Trophy many times, which is the biggest tournament in the country, still they don’t get what they deserve, “ rues Masoodi.
He says that government wants youth look at the brighter side when they don’t help them out. “It is simple. If you want to keep the youth happy and engaged, you have to give them jobs by which they can pursue their dreams.”
source: http://www.risingkashmir.com / Rising Kashmir / Home / by Mir Basit Hussain / Srinagar / November 02nd, 2015

Sania Mirza to shape up tennis kids

Sports, , , ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

Starts academy for players between ages three and eight.

Sania Mirza poses with kids at the newly-opened Grassroot Level wing of the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy next to her house in Jubilee Hills on Monday (Photo: R. Pavan)
Sania Mirza poses with kids at the newly-opened Grassroot Level wing of the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy next to her house in Jubilee Hills on Monday (Photo: R. Pavan)

Hyderabad:

Tennis ace Sania Mirza on Monday launched the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy’s Grassroot Level wing for players between the ages of three and eight, next to her home in Jubilee Hills here.

The idea was to introduce budding players to tennis, she said. “As a tennis player I’ve had lot of difficulties coming to know what to do and where to go as a child and knowing how much to practise,” Sania said.

“It is actually my mother and her friend’s idea and obviously the Mirza family supports it. Tennis today is too competitive and you have to start when you are three or four years old,” Sania explained. “The professionals, the biggest of champions, have always started at the ages of 4, 5 and 6,” she added.

“We are still waiting for the next Sania, the next Mahesh (Bhupathi) and Leanders (Paes) to come and this is just a small way of contributing to it,” she said adding “It is right next to my house and I will obviously give some time as well.

“The concept is to get as many kids as possible to the academy where we are going to play with soft, colourful balls to make it attractive and easier for them,” Sania said, adding, “At that age, I don’t think they’d understand the concept of forehand or backhand. It is more about fun, enjoyment. You have to get them to try and love the game first before they want to actually make it their profession.”

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Sports> Tennis / February 07th, 2017

Former Delhi state football captain Syed Nasir Hasan no more

Sports, , ,

NEW DELHI :

New Delhi :

Former Delhi state football captain and national referee Syed Nasir Hasan passed away today after a brief illness, according to Delhi Soccer Association (DSA).

He was 73. A large number of former and current footballers attended his funeral and paid rich tributes.

Apart from the officials of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), DSA’s president Subhash Chopra and the managing committee expressed their deep condolences over his death.

Hasan started his football career in the sixties. He did his schooling at Anglo Arabic School and graduation from Delhi College.

He represented Delhi State Senior team in the Santosh Trophy in 1973.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> Sports> Football> Top Stories / PTI / January 30th, 2017

Indore pacer Avesh Khan hopes for IPL high

Sports, , ,

Indore, MADHYA PRADESH :

Indore :

Years ago, when Mohammad Ashique Khan would chat about cricket with his customers while they would bide time in his paan shop outside SJSITS, one of the top engineering colleges here, like most ‘paanwalas’ tend to do across the streets of India, little did he realise that one day, his own son would come back to the town as the part of one of the most popular teams in the IPL.

Madhya Pradesh pacer Avesh Khan , who shot into the limelight after clocking 139.8kmph against Pakistan in the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh last year, is a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore  squad, though he’s unlikely to play when they play the Kings XI Punjab at the MPCA Stadium here on Sunday night.

“I’m obviously excited. I’ll get to go home, but I wish that I get to make my IPL debut soon, so that I can prove my talent, express myself,” Khan told TOI from Bangalore, while packing his bags for the trip. The 20-year-old claims that despite his humble background, cricket was never a problem.

“My father had a paan shop five-six years back, when I wasn’t even playing cricket, but now he’s a finance manager in a firm. We never had financial problems. Through the earnings of his paan shop, my father ensured that we had food on the table twice in the day, and thanks to Allah, we never had to face financial problems. I was and am never feel embarrassed about what he did. No work is small or big,” he recalls.

Unlike most young cricketers these days, the flow of money hasn’t resulted Khan’s lifestyle becoming extravagant. “I don’t have too many indulgences. I never craved for a big flat, or a flashy car, or expensive clothes. I still don’t have my own car. I’m not an outgoing person, don’t and spend most of my day training.

“On Sunday, I like spending time with my parents. I just want to see my parents happy and proud of me. Twice, the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) awarded me Rs 5 lakhs cash prize, but I gave that money to my father. I don’t keep more than Rs200 in my pocket. If I need more money, I ask my mother for it,” he says.

The IPL contract with RCB came just as he was feeling low at being ignored from the IPL auction list last year despite having impressed everyone at the Colts’ World Cup. “I was feeling bad as my name wasn’t there in the IPL auction, despite being the highest wicket-taker for India (12scalps@15.08) in the U-19 World Cup last year. Luckily, as RCB’s bowling wasn’t doing well at that point, Virat bhai (Kohi, India & RCB skipper) and Daniel Vettori (coach) summoned me for trials in Bangalore before the playoffs last year and I was signed up last year. I was retained this year on an Rs 11 lakhs contract,” he recalls.

 “He’s a sincere, hard-working boy. He can generate good pace-around the 140s. He’s sharp off the pitch. He’s just 20, and he’ll learn with time. He’ll be noticed because of his speed. The good thing about him is that he gets bounce from those ideas where the batsman doesn’t like it. He can finish off the game in a session, and tends to be quicker in his second spell, when the conditions a more in favour of the batsmen,” praises former India and Madhya Pradesh batsman Amay Khurasia, who has coached the youngster since he first came to the MPCA academy when he was just 15.

Khurasia feels that the India selectors haven’t groomed Khan well after the pacer’s talent was visible during the junior World Cup. “Considering that he was praised by cricket legends like Rahul Dravid (India U-19 coach) and Glenn McGrath, the selectors could’ve picked him for the Irani Cup. Even the MP Ranji selectors have goofed up by not picking him in the Ranji Trophy team initially,” he laments.

A knee injury, and a lack of vision on part of the selectors has meant that Khan hasn’t played for MP since the high of the U-19 World Cup.

Maybe, the IPL has a better fate in store for this rare talent.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> IPL / by Gaurav Gupta / TNN / April 10th, 2017

M’lurean’s petition helped cyclists use major roads

Community Involvement / Social Issues, Sports, ,

Mangalore, KARNATAKA :

On A Mission : Raheem Teekay
On A Mission : Raheem Teekay

Mangaluru :

If cycling enthusiasts can still use major roads in future, then they must thank a Mangalurean for making it possible.

A boorish remark by an Audi Q8 driver that ‘cyclists will be thrown out of the highways soon’ forced 64-year-old Raheem Teekay to launch an online petition on change.org against the recommendations of a parliamentary standing committee on banning cyclists and pedestrians from major roads. The petition on the website received 7,500 signatures in a few days.

Raheem, from Falnir in Mangaluru, started cycling just 13 months ago and has clocked 4,500 km so far. He said the petition was launched in the second week of March and more than 500 riders signed it by the end of the day and 2,000 in a week.

Ra heem said: “It was the day after TOI reported that cyclists may be barred from major roads. I was returning from my bicycle ride from Panambur. At Urwa Market, a high-end car was reversing, and I signalled to the driver for the right of way. The driver rolled down the window glass, stared at me and said in Tulu: ‘You people will soon be thrown out of the highways.’ I did not say a word and pedalled on.”

The bicycle activist said the remark made him launch a petition on change.org within hours of the incident. “I’ve signed many petitions posted by others, and this was my first. Days later, I started receiving congratulatory messages after Union minister Nitin Gadkari referred to the online petition at a press conference and ruled out any move to ban cycling on roads,” he said.

Talking of his experience, Raheem said “so-called illiterate” bus and autorickshaw drivers have a tolerant and sensitive attitude towards cyclists, and those driving high-end cars display loathing behavior and honk at cyclists nonstop.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Stanley Pinto / TNN / April 07th, 2017

Armaan Ebrahim Steps Up To Pro Class Of Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Series

Sports, World Opinion, , , ,

Chennai, TAMIL NADU :

armaanMPOs05apr2017

Indian racer Armaan Ebrahim has progressed to the highly competitive Pro Class of the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Championship for the 2017 season. After two successful seasons in the Pro-Am class of the championship, the promotion is a major push for the Indian racer’s career and his dream of competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship. Armaan joined team FFF Racing and will partner with UK’s Jack Bartholomew in the race spec Lamborghini Huracan. FFF Racing will also have a second Huracan in the championship that will be piloted by teammates Carrie Schreiner and Richard ‘Spike’ Goaddard.

The 2017 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia series is a five round championship and commences this weekend on 7th April at Sepang, Malaysia. The next three rounds of the championship will be held at the Buriram circuit, Thailand; followed by Suzuka and Fuji tracks in Japan. The final race for this season will be held in Imola, Italy.

armaanLamborghiniMPOs05apr2017

Armaan won the 2016 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia series in Pro-Am class

For Armaan, the step up to the Pro-Class was only logical after winning the Pro-Am class in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia series last year. The Indian driver along with Sri-Lankan partner Dilantha Malagamuwa managed to win 7 of 12 races in the 2016 season.

Speaking on his progress to the Pro-Class in the championship, Armaan said, “After winning the title last year, it was natural for me to get into the Pro Class. I have a good teammate and I am looking forward to making 2017 a grand one.”

Speaking on having Armaan on board, FFF Racing Team owner, Sean Fu Songyang said, “We are delighted to have Armaan in our Super Trofeo Asia programme. He is a proven race winner and, along with Jack, will be the car to beat”

Before making it big in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia Championship, Armaan started his racing career winning the Formula LGB championship as a 16-year-old, and went on to race in Formula BMW Asia, Formula V6, GP2 Asia and A1GP. Armaan also raced in three season of Formula 2 before heading to the Super Trofeo Asia series in 2015.

source: http://www.auto.ndtv.com / NDTV.com / Home> CarandBike> Home> News / by Sameer Contractor / April 05th, 2017

My dream is to have women’s team in 2020 Olympics: Ismail Baig

Leaders, Sports, ,

Hyderabad, TELANGANA :

National chief rowing coach Ismail Baig.
National chief rowing coach Ismail Baig.

Hyderabad:

National chief rowing coach Ismail Baig is a man on a mission. With 2020 Tokyo Games coming in three years, he is closer to his dream of having an Indian women’s team in Olympics. Baig is confident that if the women rowers continue to persist with the game with dedication, they can qualify for the Olympics. He also says that the Telangana rowers have started carving a niche for themselves with their exploits. He also revealed his next assignment as coach in an interview with Shiva Krishna Gundra.

On India’s Next Assignment

We are conducting Indian camp for the upcoming Asian Championship and next year’s Youth Olympics next year. The camp has started three weeks. If our rowers do well in World championship or Asian Championship, they can book the Youth Olympics quota. However, there are only two categories for each country and that too, one quote is reserved for women. Right now, we have 19 boys and 14 girls training in the camp. For the first time, we have eight rowers from our State which is remarkable.

On State Rowers

Our state rowers are doing great at nationals especially in sub-junior and junior level. We topped the nationals in the junior and took second place in seniors. These results assures of a bright future for the State. We have good support from SATS (Sports Authority of Telangana State) as well. We were never on the rowing map in the country in the combined State. But after formation of the new State, we started from the scratch as most of the rowers left for the other States. Most of the kids are from army families. But we are concentrating more now on our own athletes.

On Target 2020

There are good girl rowers like Sitamahalaxmi. Youngsters like Geetanjali and Hemalatha are very impressive. Both these girls won gold in junior category. They won bronze in the senior category as well. So I am working on this combination for the 2020 Olympics. I am pretty sure the men’s team will qualify but my dream is to have a women’s team for the Olympics for the first time in rowing history. I’m happy with the way the girls are making progress. I am confident that if they stick to the game, they can qualify.

On Infrastructure

I can’t say we have world class infrastructure. But this is one of the best facilities in the country. We have federation’s equipment. We have a good water body in the city.

On International Events In The City

The quality of the water in Hussain Sagar is not good. The government is also doing a lot to clean the water. But it also depends on the citizens of the twin cities. If we can do that, we can have international tournaments in the city. We conducted an international tournament in 2005. If the water condition improves in the future, every year we can conduct an international tournament.

On Game’s Popularity

I have been coaching since 18 years. The game was not so popular then. The game was introduced in the Asia in 1980s. We used to win only bronze medals. But under my coaching we have won gold and silver at Asian Games and qualified for the Olympics for five consecutive times. Dutt also finished good in the last Olympics. That is a great achievement. So the craze for the sport is increasing slowly.

On Future Rowers

We started three years ago with few rowers who were of 10 and 11 years. Now they are producing results. Rowers like Sairaju won international silver medal in pair category. It is a great achievement. He also won gold in the nationals. So our rowers are producing good results at national levels and also competing at international level.

On Government Support

We need more funding. We need more local camps and talent hunts. We have to start two or three centres in other parts of the State. We can establish a centre in Karimnagar. There are other places where we also can start. We can get more talent and give advanced training in Hyderabad. That will help for larger pool of talented rowers.

The Bhopal water sports has 15 crore budget. We don’t have that much budget in the State. Our rowers have won first gold medal for the State in National Games in Kerala. We won five medals from rowing alone. That is 40 to 50 per cent of medals that won State was from water sports. A medal from hockey or other games will give lot of attention. But medals from water sports are not treated in the same way. Ours is an Olympic sport. We need to change our thinking.

source: http://www.telanganatoday.com / Telangana Today / Home> Sports> Other Sports / by Shiva Kumar Gundra / March 23rd, 2017

Nabi Md., father of Riaz, no more

Sports, , , ,

Chennai, TAMIL NADU :

We at s2h are very sad to report the sudden demise of Nabi Mohammad, a yesteryear star player of Tamil Nadu. He was 66.

Nabi, a well known international umpire, is father of Md Riaz, who represented India in two Olympics.

Nabi was officiating in the Tamil Nadu inter-district Women Hockey tournament in Nagerkovil in Kanyakumari District, when death came calling.

Pic: Md. Nabi (Centre) lining up for Tamil Nadu state team
Pic: Md. Nabi (Centre) lining up for Tamil Nadu state team

“He was a great inside-forward, excellent schemer, intelligent player. I played with him for long time in the State. He was an India stuff but did not get chance”,Olympian Munir Sait, said.

“He has devoted his entire life to hockey, and it so happened he died when he was supervising a tournament”, Anil Kumar, a shocked umpire and coach of the Aggarwal Vidhyala in Chennai, said.

“Am an umpire today because of him”, he added.

The mortal remains of departed soul is being brought to Chennai, where he will be cremated tomorrow, by road.

He died due to massive heart attack

This writer met him last month during the Ruskin Inter-School tournament, where he was the tournament director. Before that he assumed the same role for the Syed Ahmad Memorial Cup.

Nabi is a product of famous Govt. Madrasa-I-Azam School, was part of famous Tamil Nadu State team in the 60s.

His other two sons, Jameel and Nawaz also took up hockey and shone. While Jameel plays for Indian Overseas Bank, Nawaz plays for Indian Oil Corporation.

Mrs.Renuka Lakshmi, who organized the Women’s Inter-District Tournament, and on whose invitation Nabi was in Nagerkovil, expressed shock.

“It is really shock for me, he is an out out hockey soul, ready to help everybody for the sake of hockey. We will miss him, it is a big loss, she said.

source: http://www.stick2hockey.com / Stick2Hockey.com – S2h / by K Arumugam / July 01st, 2011