Jr WC Co-Host Madurai is a lost glory; time to retrieve its hockey

K. ARUMUGAM

Madurai is cultural capital of Tamil Nadu, the state that hosts Jr World Cup in two cities. The temple town, a co-host of the ongoing Junior World Cup, had been a great hockey destination. However, as it happened with many other cities in India, time has weathered the sports even without trace.

Madurai is one such.

Now, it has come to the fore by being co-host of such valuable global tournament as Junior World Cup. It is hoped the event helps the sport again germinate and blossom to an extent as it was in the early 1990s.

Madurai, which hosted prestigious Senior National Championships way back in 1967 and 1968, trial event for talent spotting for the Mexico Olympics, used to have number of clubs, institutional teams, with colleges and schools having hockey teams. It is often said in the Tamil Nadu circle that the city boasting of longest League season stretching to ten months. Interesting to note that it had so many division in the league right from veteran to kids.

Two colleges, American and Madura, and their hockey rivalry is often spoken fond.  The above-mentioned Nationals were hosted in the campuses of these colleges. However, they do not have such teams right now.

All India Issac Hockey Tournament was also a famous annual competition such as Indian Airlines, Bhilwara, Indian Railway, Services, Punjab Police etc.  used to take part,

It is not held nowadays. Those days a number of Anglo-Indians – am talking about 60s and 70s, not colonial era — combine with local teams, providing variety. 

As of now only one Club, Rifle Lines, located in a police colony, holds the Club culture. It still organizes a tournament but mostly restricted to State teams. The beauty is they have their own chat ground, lying amidst a concrete jungle of a habitation. AG Kannan, a former player, also runs teams in a ground owned by the Madurai District Hockey Association. This unit is one of the oldest in the State.

There is sports complex which hosted two turf grounds. These were refurbished, where the Madurai part of the Junior World Cup is being staged. This ground was catering to about 30 boys and girls who are housed in a residential place.

Madurai hockey is mostly restricted to the hostel.

Now that a major tournament came to their doors and opened it emphatically, it is hoped those in the MDHA encompass every hockey lover in the city and do things that would enhance its presence and produce players. Before that the legacy has to be protected and for that the sports should be played in schools and colleges. 

Their priority therefore should be to start hockey teams in these educational institutions, keeping in mind Senior National Championships in the 60s and 70s were held on their grounds. And, see the kind of ground that witnessed these Championships (pic given).

Government of Tamil Nadu has spent a fortune to organize the Junior World Cup.

It should not end as a one-stop event. Efforts must be made to immortalize the moment.

Wake up MDHA.