Now Coorg gets separate identity in Hockey India
New Delhi, Oct 26th 2015: Coorg, which has a distinct identity in the vast canvas of Indian hockey, will now be able to play as a unit in the Hockey India tournaments including National Championships. Hockey India has now inducted Hockey Coorg as an Associate Member unit of it. The latest entrant Hockey Coorg will operate as an Associate Member unit. The newly formed Hockey Coorg, will see Mr. PE Kalaiah, spearheading the unit as the President.
Hockey India, who currently has 20 Permanent Member units, will have 28 Associate Member units with the formation of Hockey Coorg.
Karnataka has traditionally been a major contributor to hockey sport. Hockey Coorg’s primary functionality will be to manage the large talent pool from the Coorg region of the state which in the past has produced some great players like BP Govinda, Arjun Halappa, AB Subbaiah and MP Ganesh.
A few of the current players donning the national cap from Coorg are VR Raghunath, SV Sunil, SK Utthappa, Nikin Thimmiah and Nithin Thimmaiah.
With the formation of Hockey Coorg, the region can now participate in the National Championships as a separate team, helping India unearth a larger pool of talent for the future.
Speaking on the development, Mohd. Mushtaque Ahmad, Secretary General, Hockey India said, “I am delighted to welcome Hockey Coorg as an Associate Member unit of Hockey India. The region of Coorg has always given our country some exceptional athletes in the sport of hockey, and with the formation of this new unit, I am confident that we will be moving towards a formidable talent pool who only are going to help us carry forward the legacy and honour of the sport, bringing many laurels to the country.”
Pic: Hockey festival in Coorg