Len teaches his old tormentor Rajinder Singh a lesson through WSH

This was hockey’s lightly kept secret. When Rajinder Singh Sr. was the chief coach of Indian national team, he sidelined Len Aiyappa, who was really going strong then what with his superb short corner drills and awe-inspiring body build up. Instead, Rajinder relied on young and upcoming pair of Jugraj Singh and Kawalpreet Singh.

Rajinder often said Len is a good striker during the penalty corners, but not a match winner and also poor in his defensive skills. He was entitled to his opinion.

Dejected Len, who was in his top form, moved to Kuala Lumpur and even top-scored the league there once.

Then came the Premier Hockey League (2005-2008). It was Len who propelled Karnataka Hi-fliers / Karnataka Lions to title on couple of times in the PHL, predictably top-scoring the whole edition twice.

Yet, having been once sidelined by Rajinder Singh, others too did not venture on this star. In a way its Rajinder who is perceived to be his tormentor.

Now, after early setbacks, Suniel Shetty owned Karnataka Lions, is waking up late in the WSH.

Inconsistent and, even intemperate, Lions met Shers – the latter is coached by Rajinder Singh – in the repeat match in Lions’s den, Bangalore, on Friday, the Shers have been pool leader.

As if to teach his past tormentor a lesson or two, Len came out with a spirited work in his circle, to thwart the stars Rajinder pamphered that included Deepak Thakur, Prabhjot Singh and Gagan Ajit to deny them any room.

He proved he can be an excellent defender, and then did his usual act of scoring too. While the Shers could convert only a penalty corner out of nine, Lions’ Len fructified two out of four penalty corner, to hand out a 1-2 defeat to Rajinder.

With this second successive win, the Lions jumped to fourth position in the table even though the Shers are still at top with 22 points, 7 more than the Lions.

Sports is a strange field where everyone gets his share of fortune. Now, Len got a chance to tell his past tormentor, yes, am here, still alive and kicking and today knocked out your team.

Sports is all about personal feelings, personal lessons, personal victories for those involved in playing and coaching.

Friday was Len’s not Rajinder’s.