Films like ‘Chak De’ to help revive Indian hockey: Negi 
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 13
For Mir Ranjan Negi, goalkeeper of Indian hockey team that went down to Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games final, life had been miserable until he gathered courage to coach Indian men and women hockey teams to redeem his pride.

Contrary to the expectations of the home crowd, India not only lost the final but was virtually “trounced” as Pakistan forwards rained goals. And unfortunately, the blame for the big defeat came Negi’s way. Angry demonstrators even called him traitor and attempted to ransack his house in Mumbai.

But, he never allowed this “unfounded criticism and condemnation” diminish his love and commitment for the game. He rose like a phoenix and set an example by coaching Indian teams after seven years of India’s defeat at the hands of Pakistan hockey team.

Film “Chak De”, in which Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, while playing the role of the coach of national women’s hockey team, highlights the qualities of great nationalist and a genuine sportsman as Mir Ranjan Negi has been.

It was at Chitkara Media School here, Negi shared his trauma he lived with after the 1982 Asian Games final debacle.

“It was not me alone who underwent the trauma, but my family too suffered a lot. What has been depicted in the film is only a whisker of the miseries and misfortune heaped on me by the country’s strong hockey community. The blockbuster “Chak De”, a film based on my life and experiences, has vindicated my commitment and dedication to the Indian hockey,” adds Negi.

Scars of trauma and suffering are still writ large on his face. And when he recalls the moments of his agony, he virtually comes alive on how the crowds gathered to thrash him. “Once when I went for a dinner at the Pandora Park restaurant in New Delhi after the games, I immediately became the target of mob fury. Many a time people charged to kill me and I had to run for my life”, recalls Negi.

“People’s anger had not died down even after a year of the National Stadium disaster. In 1983, when I went for my marriage, some miscreants even got the power supply to the wedding venue disconnected. My marriage was solemnised in darkness. Such incidents forced me to live in exile in a country for which I had done my maximum. Those seven years were awful,” recounts Negi.

To prove himself, he had to restart his association with the game, but this time in a different role, as a coach. “It was for the persuasion of good friends and my old team-mates like Olympians Merwyn Fernandes and Joaquim Carvalho in 1989 that I agreed to take up coaching assignments. Indian men team clinched gold medal in the 1998 Asian Games. He was one of the coaches of the winning team.

Grabbing gold by women team at National Stadium in Afro-Asian Games-2003 under Negi’s coaching was just what he wanted to wash the blot “put on his face” 21 years earlier. “It was the most emotional moment of my life and I can’t explain it in words”, says Negi, who has just completed his biography “Gloom to Glory”.

In 2004, Negi enabled Indian team (women) to win top honours in Asia Cup. “Undoubtedly, the game has lost its previous glory but very soon its days will come again. Films like “Chak De” can help revive our national game,” concluded Negi. 

Chandigarh, August 13
Deputy Superintendent of Police S.S. Randhawa and Prof Harjinder Singh have been unanimously elected president and general secretary, respectively, of the Chandigarh Kabaddi Association (CKA) for four years.

The elections were conducted during a general body meeting of the association held here today.

Bhagat Singh Deswal and J.S. Negi were the observers from the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India and Chandigarh Sports Council, respectively.

Also, it was announced that the CKA would organise the 7th All-India Circle Kabaddi Championship in February next year.