K. ARUMUGAM

Year 2024 turned out to be a memorable one for India. It went to Paris Olympic Games as the Asian Games champions and returned head held high. For a country that never won even back to back Azlan Shah Cup, back to back bronze at Olympic Games happened this year. Like men, women also won their Asian Champions Trophy. Significantly, globally acclaimed Hockey India League has just been revived.

The salient feature of the year is the respect players got in the collective consciousness of the country and also in the mind of Hockey India. For the first time, the parent body organized farewell to two retiring legends, first for Goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and then joined hands with determined Rani Rampal. On both occasions, Hockey India presented a purse. This may turn out to be a game changer in sofar as attitude of the parent body towards its most cherished stakeholder, the players.

Like last year, India established its Asian superiority. Indian men won the Asian Champions Trophy with an all win record. Another heartening development is Rajgir, a historic town hosting Bihar State’s first ever international hockey tournament. Indian women made it memorable defending successfully the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy there.

India also clinched Junior Asia Cup of both genders at Muscat. The icing on the cake is coaches of the victorious colts’ team is former players, PR Sreejesh and Tushar Khandkar. The rising of home grown coaches augurs well for the future of Indian hockey.

S2H REVISITS YEAR 2024

Scorers

Indian won the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy with an all win record