It was party time at Bangkok

The Hockey Association of Thailand gave a party to all the teams and officials a party in the Grand Hall of the official hotel, Rama Gardens.

Visiting AHF President Sultan Azlan Shah, his trusted P. Alagendra, HAT president were the dominant guests

There was many cultural items lined up, traditional and modern.

What however caught the eyes was the willingness and eagerness of all the teams to come on the stage and do their bit.

Almost all the teams came on the stage, and performed. As always happens, one or two team members good at singing or dancing and it was here as well.

The best prize of course should go to Kazakhstan coach, who was simply superb in dancing, and got long applause.

Sri Lankans in their tradtional attire gave a good account of themselves. Eastern teams, all in their sporting gear, sang, danced and laughed, entertaining others all the way.

Will India join them on the stage was the inner urge. As the fag end, they did. Deepika Murthy did a great zig, Saba Anjum — I know she is a very good dancer — excelled, first time Jasjeet shook legs on stage, Mamta was not ordinary, Asunta, Binita and Chanchen formed a ring, the tune was tum macchale tum macchale Hindi number which almost stuck a response with the audience. It looks the Hindi film music is there everywhere.

There was in the beginning a Chinese dance with delicate bombooses beat, our Chanchan Devi joined to the delight of all.

On prompting by the girls, team physio Vikas Dhawan joined them on the stage. Indian team physios, I think, are good at dancing. Shrikant Iyenkar, men’s team physio, won many a heart with his astonishing dance sequences to hindi and english tunes during one such party in Singapore during the recent Junior World Cup.

One thing great was when Chinese team was performing on the stage, Koreans joined, when India danced Hong Kong joined and things went on, losing for a while the cometiton and rigours that it brings.

Good time pass before the knock-out stage starts tomorrow.

HAT president and AHF Secretary General Alagendras spoke before playes broke into dance. Algendra said that AHF is determined to improve hockey in Asia. When I say determined, I mean it. He said that the AHF is forming many Committess and will do lot more to bring the Asian Glory in the world hockey.

He presented S. Thyagarajan of India to the audience, mentioning that he is an important personality in the AHF as the Chairman of the Media Committee. He also requested him to highlight the Thailand’s good efforts in organizing the tournament in the AHF Newsletter.

Officials were presented a gift, a momento that features elephant.

Indian team presented HAT President a stick with signature of all Indian players and officials; also a momento each to AHF President and Secretary.