Report Courtesy: The Hindu, Chennai, 26th August 2011

Chennai: Author K. Arumugam’s Tamil book ‘Tamilnattin Hockey Veerargal’ (Tamil Nadu’s hockey heroes) was released by historian S. Muthaiah at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here on Thursday.

Speaking on the occasion, Muthiah delivered a wealth of details about the origins of hockey in India. It was only after 1857 that India saw hockey being played. And hockey came to Madras officially in 1894 at the Madras Cricket Club. The match was between MCC and British Army Regiments (stationed in India),” he said.

On July 22, 1901 the first Madras hockey tournament was played. That tournament is still going strong. It is now known as the Murugappa all-India tournament.”

Muthaiah further said it was schools like St. George’s, Doveton Corrie and Wesley that used to be the feeders to Indian hockey.

“They are now virtually gone,” he said. In that context, he said efforts of people like Arumugam would go a long way in promoting hockey.

Author Arumugam mentioned that the book contained details of all the players from Tamil Nadu, who have represented India at International tournaments. The book is priced at Rs 185.

News item courtesy: The Hindu