New Indian Express: All in the Family: Hockey Runs in Blood for IB Man Thirumal

By Rahul Ravikumar

29 December 2015

CHENNAI: Selvaraj Thirumal Valavan. For a man named by his parents thus — it does have the verbal complexity to induce tongue spasms — his mantra for life is on the diametric end of the spectrum: simplicity.

During his team’s (Indian Bank) Chennai Hockey Association Super Six League clash with AGORC on Monday, the centre-half fluffed a clearance-turned-pass from the D during the second quarter. The gaffe elicited a few laughs from the audience, but Thirumal stood there, unfazed.

A few minutes later, Thirumal was back to being his usual metronomic self; obtaining the ball through intercepts with minimal fuss and providing his team’s frontline the ammunition for their constant barrage of passes and goalmouth scrambles.

Indian Bank registered a come-from-behind win in the end, and Thirumal with his simple-yet-efficient display had been a contributor; another exhibition of his affinity for sticking to the non-complex. “I became a centre-half because I felt the role was comfortable and straightforward. I was given the choice to be up front, but the midfield felt right. It appealed to me more,” remarks Thirumal, currently employed as a senior manager with the bank.

The 46-year-old’s family and environs are steeped in the sport; a fulcrum behind Thirumal’s decision as a child to pick up the stick and strap on his shin guards. His father Selvaraj was a regular in the State Bank of India squad, and his uncle MP Murugesh was a former international and Indian Railways player.

“Quite a few of my other family members too are hockey players. More than familial influence, I think Canal Road (the place where he grew up) was the reason behind me being here. Everyone there is in love with hockey,” he recollects.

Thirumal’s national debut came against Poland in 1997, and has 172 international appearances in his 26-year tryst with hockey. He was also conferred the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Sports Award in 1999.

Thirumal was also the part of the nation’s hockey contingent for the Sydney Olympics (2000), a memory that he cherry-picks as his professional best. “Even though we finished seventh, it was a great experience. It’s something that will be with me for the rest of my life.”

International Appearances

Olympics: 2000

World Cup: 1998, 2002

Champions Challenge: 2001

Asian Games: 1998

Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: 2000

Prime Minister’s Gold Cup: 2001

European Tour: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001