Ajay Maken Releases Book on Women’s Hockey

Shri Ajay Maken, Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, today released a book titled “Glimpses of Indian Women Hockey” authored by hockey historian and chronicle Shri. K. Arumugam in a simple ceremony.

Shri Maken while congratulating the author observed that books on women’s hockey are a rarity in India which makes the author’s work still more commendable. The Sports Minister also stressed that Indian hockey needs more people like Shri Arumugam who with their zeal may carry hockey forward.

Shri Maken also mentioned that the Ministry is in the process of setting “Centre of Excellence” of hockey at Major Dhyanchand Stadium . Shri Maken further stated that he had discussed about resource persons for the proposed Centre with Mr Leandro Negre , President of International Hockey Federation (FIH). He also extended his best wishes to both men’s and women’s hockey teams which are presently participating in the Olympics qualifying events.

The author of the book Shri Arumugam said that his book captures the vast history of Indian women’s hockey and provides a profile of more than 200 players. The book also provides rare vintage images. Much of the data, he said, is rare on which presently no reliable literature is available.

Article courtesy: Press Information Bureau, Government of India.

‘Glimpses of Indian Women Hockey’

By K. Arumugam

Salient Features of the Book

The book starts with a story of Arjuna awardee, Pritam Rani Siwach, who played for India from 1991 to 2008, and better part of her career being mother of two children.

In separate chapters, both India’s glorious victories and also tournaments in which they failed in the last minutes, are described.

The book gives comprehensive accounts of events and engagements of Indian girls from 1990 to till date. Instead of statistical summation, these events are portrayed in lucid prose with catchy captions.

Early growth of hockey and administrative hassles are also dealt with in the chapter ‘Difficult Financial times for the Pioneers’.

India was the first country in Asia to host an international tournament in 1968. It was the Asian Championship. As many countries withdrew in the last minute, some African countries were invited to participate. India field two teams, both failed in the semis. Fortunately, Japan won the final against Uganda, which had six Indian origin players. Otherwise, an African country would have won an Asian Championship. This particular chapter is dealt with in ‘Asian Championship not won by an African’.

The chapter ‘Hockey Queens’ dwells briefly the stars India produced, right from Elvira Britto (1960s), Eliza Neson (80s), Rajbir Rai (90s) to contemporary ones; and contains rare and hitherto unpublished vintage photos.

On the contemporary hockey, failure of India to qualify for the Olympics at Kazan is graphically illustrated in the chapter, ‘Your forwards are so sweet in the circle’.

Wining of Manchester Commonwealth Games, performance of India in the 2006 World Cup is elaborated in the chapter, When Indian Sports Minister ran barefoot on a London street’.

The book lauds the efforts of grass root coaches like Baldev Singh in ‘Women Hockey Factory: Success story of Shahbad’.

The last Chapter ‘Tit bits’ contains various anecdotes and historical developments.

The highlight of the book is compilation of data on 210 women hockey players, produced in alphabetical manner, in the exhaustive appendix.

‘Competitions at a Glance’, another rare compilation traces all tournaments and test series Indian women played so far, with results.

Images of all players in the Delhi Olympic Qualifiers are among the 80 photos in the book.

For further information contact K. Arumugam 09811662081