K. ARUMUGAM

One of the oldest provincial hockey associations in India, based in Tamil Nadu, has taken a unique step to promoting the profile of hockey. Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu, headed by Sekhar Manoharan, also treasurer of Hockey India, has set in motion Tamil Nadu Schools Hockey League (THSL). The pioneering step commences with matches starting from today.  It’s a Pan Tamil Nadu league for Under-17 students. Likely to be extended to girls next year. 

Tamil Nadu State Schools League 2024 MascotSo far, schools have hardly been in the zone of reckoning for any State Hockey Association. Its same everywhere in every state. The new initiative, District and Zone based, seemed to have struck a responsive chord among the schools if the number of schools (about 306) enrolled is any indication.

It is announced that a total of 5000 plus students will take part. The event as of now involves 500 plus matches involving all 38 districts of the State.

The TSHL is scheduled to start today and will culminate at the end of next month.

The good news is that, in order to keep uniformity among affluent, middle and low income schools, all the team members will be given Jersey from the organizers. This is an important step, which NGOs like One Thousand Hockey Legs are doing quite some time to effect socialistic tenor among the teams. Therefore, the provision of playing jersey and then kitting winners of each zone are welcome steps.

The format seems exciting. All the schools teams in each district will play on league format. The winning school team will then be played against Combined XI of the district.

All winning teams of each zone, that is about 12, will gather in Chennai to play the final phase of the league, for which the organizers will bear both boarding and lodging expenses.

By and large, it is a right step in right direction. If continued annually, the State can regain its pride of place in the comity of Indian states.