Domestic doyen Amar Aiyamma retires
One of the doyens of Indian domestic hockey, Amar Aiyamma, has announced his retirement today after the conclusion of the Senior Nehru Cup in which his team, Bharat Petroleum, most fittingly, reached the finals.
As if to prove he has still in him a lot of hockey, he struck a brace of goals in the finals of the prestigious event.
“Yes, I am retiring when I feel I have more hockey left in me. Because, that’s the way one should”, said the veteran striker speaking to www.stick2hockey.com shortly after he was felicitated by Chief of Army Staff, General Bikramjit Singh, the chief guest of the day.
Amar Aiyamma, a product of Bangalore based SAI Sports Hostel, is currently a manager with the Bharat Petroleum, and wants to concentrate on his professional career after hanging his weary boot.
“My department offers opportunity to prosper post playing days. I had this urge to grab the chance and make another fruitful career there; that is why I felt its time for me to quit”.
On asked about the overall impression of hockey, he said he enjoyed thoroughly the game.
“I enjoyed the game to the hilt. Because I enjoyed the game, I could play so long”, he reasoned with a spark in his eyes.
This writer saw Amar Aiyamma merging a striking force during the 1996 National Games, when the Karnataka team was making waves on the newly laid KSHA stadium, as a worthy centre-forward.
Amar was also a potent force for the State team in the National Championships, National Games and in various All India tournaments.
He in the beginning succeeded Ravi Naicker, 1992 Barcelona Olympian, at the striking position for the state as well as institutional team.
“A couple of years I played along side him before given the spearhead role”, he reminisced.
Though occasionally called for the game, Amar, despite his passion and proven talent could not break into the national side as much as he would have liked to, and he at this stage no regrets on that.
This is all the gentleman-hockey player has to say: “I gave more to hockey than it did”.
That’s a great moment to sign off.
www.stick2hockey.com wishes Amar Aiyamma a happy retired life.