At 40, Rahul Singh pulls a victory for Central Secretariat.

At 40 it is not possible to play hockey on turf unless its veteran variety. Its all the more difficult to last full seventy minutes on turf, that too in a demanding contest like knock out match. But, Central Customs’ Rahul Singh, a well known centre-half of yore, defied the common belief today at the Shivaji Stadium. Varanasi born Olympians Rahul Singh not only played reasonably and fittingly well for Central Secretariat team full time but also struck a goal – a drag flick in the first penalty corner – in sealing 5-2 win against the young but brittle home team Delhi XI.

The tournament was India’s most popular Nehru Senior Cup which got off to a grand start yesterday with a match between MP Academy and BSF.

Nehru Senior Cup starts on Nov 14, birth anniversary of India’s first Prime Minister, and the traditional is being maintained over six decades.

Central Secretariat is a team consisting of palyers from veracious government departments like Customs, various Ministries of Government India, Income Tax etc.

However barring Jr International goalkeeper Naveen Kumar and Hockey India League Player Gunasekaran, the team had mostly well aged players.
However, seasoned campaigners like Rahul Singh, captain, led the side admirably well to get full points and thus move to next match while Delhi is made to exit.

Rahul, like a debut maker’s enthusiasm, covered the ground to retrieve the ball, and with a hawkish eye helped defence to clear dangerous situation, and when the host team almost got the workable score of 2-3, he pulled himself up and accelerated the speed, even diving once full length, and is 40!

“I go to Khalsa College, which produced many players thrice a week and keep myself fit” said Rahul post match, wiping off profuse sweating.

Rahul is younger brother of Vivek Singh, who played 1988 Olympics and 1990 World Cup among other things. Vivek died 15 years ago after cancer.

Rahul, like his industrious and popular elder brother, donned centre-half position and played for India in the mid 90s. First he worked for Indian Railways before moving to Central Customs, and is now based in Mumbai.