Healed Nithin Thimmaiah still harbours Rio Games hopes

MUMBAI: A brilliant solo effort from Nithin Thimmaiah did a lot more than just put CAG 2-0 up in their 50th All India Bombay Gold Cup hockey opener against RCF at the MHAL Stadium here on Monday.

That CAG went on to win the game 4-2 undoubtedly thrilled the tall forward, but the moment he picked up the ball outside the ‘D’, then skillfully dribbled his way past a crowd of RCF defenders, and finally, the onrushing goalkeeper Karan Thakur, before slotting into the open goal, left Thimmaiah celebrating a personal victory.
It was confirmation that he had successfully banished the demons that, he later revealed, would inevitably appear in his mind the moment he was con fronted by a charging goalkeeper ever since an unfortunate collision with one left him with a dislocated wrist over a year ago.

That painful blow occurred when Thimmaiah clashed with his own ‘keeper, during a regular practice session while he was on national duty as India prepared to take on Bangladesh in a three-Test series in Dhaka last August. The accident forced him to spend a lengthy, frustrating spell on the sidelines with his left wrist in need of surgery . Yet, once his physical recovery was complete, his return to the grind, soon made him realise that the mental scars hadn’t quite healed. “When I resumed practising, I would tremble a bit when I would see the keeper charging at me,” Thimmaiah said.

He was able to play through the third season of the Hockey India League (HIL) earlier this year rep resenting UP Wizards. But when a trimmed 26-member India probable squad for the 2016 Rio Olympics didn’t include his name, Thimmaiah was compelled to take necessary action. “I spoke to some of my seniors and decided to speak to a counsellor who worked in my college. We had some friendly sessions which were really helpful. He told me, `only you can help yourself’,” revealed Thimmaiah.

Having been picked up by Jaypee Punjab Warriors for the upcoming HIL season, a rejuvenated Thimmaiah, whose moment of magic against RCF arrived on the eve of his 27th birthday , said: “I am hoping that if I perform well (in the HIL), it can put me back in contention for Rio.”

Results: CAG 4 (N Mohd 30th, N Thimmaiah 34th, D Bhargav 51st, 58th) bt RCF2(R Pawar 47th, M Patil 70th); Indian Navy 4 (S Sachin 8th, Nitesh 48th, Jugraj 49th, R Pratap 60th) bt Hockey Bhopal 2 (A Kumar 17th, S Mohd 53rd).