Tribune News Service
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Achievements of the Hockey Academy trainees
- Chandigarh State under-14 winners in 2002, 2003.
- Nehru Sub-Junior under-15 winners in 2002, 2003.
- SN Vohra under-19 winners in 2002.
- Punjab Inter-Academies Hockey Tournament runners-up in 2002.
- Topped Pool B in Junior Nehru Cup in 2003 and super league winners.
- Chandigarh Administration Six-a-Side Hockey Tournament, winners, runners-up and third position.
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Chandigarh, August 3
Since they joined the Hockey Academy in Sector 42, being run and managed by the Chandigarh Administration, on June 1, 2000, the raw kids are slowly but steadily maturing into budding players. There has been tremendous improvement in their basic skills. And this showing in the tournaments they are taking part.
And even as they improve their hockey skills they have not neglected their studies and excelled in academies as well. Forward Ranjodh Singh secured over 92 per cent marks in his class. The other trainees also touched above 80 per cent marks in their classes.
The overall progress of the boys is the result of a sustained and scientific training, comfortable stay, nutritious diet and proper care. If the present trend continues, some of them would graduate into Indian teams with the passage of time. A number of them have already starting knocking at the door of members of the junior selection committee of the Indian Hockey Federation. Forwards Ranjodh Singh, Sandeep Singh Junior and Dharamvir and half Sandeep Singh Senior have already donned the Indian colours against a Malaysian junior team in a hockey Test played in Chandigarh early this year, which the hosts won.
Nineteen trainees were selected out of 800 probables who attended selection procedure conducted by a team of experts of the Chandigarh Sports Department in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. The experts' panel visited Jalandhar, Faridkot, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Mandi, Ambala and Chandigarh to spot out talent at the grass-root level. The probables' list was pruned down to 40 after various physical tests. The final selection was done in Chandigarh to identify 19 players who were put under the supervision of Chandigarh hockey coach Jasbir Singh Bajwa. Athletic coach Iqbal Singh is looking after the physical aspects of the trainees.
According to Jasbir Bajwa, as the selected boys hailed from different rural areas and the Chandigarh environment was quite new to them, they took some time before settling down. However, the case of Harjinder Singh of Ropar, was peculiar. After staying in the Sports Hostel in Sector 42 for barely two months, he felt uncomfortable and home sick. His parents were called and a dramatic transformation was witnessed in Harjinder’s behaviour. At present he is enjoying every minute and has gained a lot of confidence.
Jasbir says: “proper emphasis is laid on physical fitness under the guidance of Iqbal Singh. Sand running, weight training and stair exercises are parts of the fitness schedule to improve flexibility and increase endurance and stamina.”
On Astroturf, they are given lessons in skills, shooting from all directions, goalkeeper training, one-touch deflection game, various combinations of penalty corner conversion technique, conversion of strokes, long corner and out of dee shots.
“As the UT Administration ensures to provide proper facilities, these boys have started shaping themselves into competition-grade players. They have already made their mark in the district, state, national and international levels. But it is just a beginning. We cannot afford to stop and continue to pat ourselves for the winning eight competitions within a span of two years. I am confident that our trainees would one day will be a part of the Indian teams for the Olympics games, World Cup and other international tournaments.”
Jasbir feels that six to seven players have the ingredients to get a call from the IHF for the under-16 national coaching camps.
The trainees also get a lot of inspiration while practising with Olympians and internationals, including Sukhvir Gill, Inderjit Singh, Raj Paul and Navdeep Singh. The experience of these internationals guides the young Hockey Academy players to learn, work hard and excel. The Chandigarh Joint Director of Sports, Dr J.P.S. Sidhu, who himself was a hockey player, is keeping a close watch on each player. He is maintaining the progress chart of the players. Mr Sidhu is also mental trainer of the Indian Hockey Federation.
Jasbir admitted that relaying of the Astroturf at the Sector 42 Sports Complex was of a big help for the players. “Practising on the synthetic surface has become a basic requirement these days as all ‘A’ grade matches are played on these turfs. Another advantage for the Chandigarh trainees is the completion of a six-a-side arena, with an Astroturf,” concluded Jasbir Bajwa.
