Viren means business
Taus Rizvi
Friday, May 1, 2009:
Mumbai: Viren Rasquinha was one of the most talented midfielders India ever had. Last year, he announced a surprise retirement at the age of 28 while still on top of his game.
“I wanted to move ahead in life and it is better to call it quits when in top form,” says Rasquinha.
The Bandra boy went on to do a Masters in Business Administration from Hyderabad’s Indian School of Business. With a degree in tow, he is now looking forward to a professional life as an administrator in an MNC.
“My life was very hectic last year and I hardly had time for myself. I want to take a month’s break and then look for a job,” the former midfielder says.
Rasquinha is handling the affairs in Bandra’s Mount Carmel Rink Hockey Tournament to be held from May 1 to 7 which will witness quite a number of teams participating in it.
“Bandra has been the hub of hockey in Mumbai and rink hockey is quite big here. I am not at all in touch with the regular sport. I am going all out here since this is being held in Bandra,” said the local lad. “In fact, this time we have more categories and increased the number of participating teams so that more people can play,” he added.
Was it tough for him to be away for more than a year from his favourite sport which he has been playing since childhood?
“Honestly, I have never had the time to think of it. I was so involved with studies and projects that I would hardly get any time to think about anything,” said Rasquinha.
Viren, however, has a long-term plan and plans to use his business acumen for the improvement of the sport in India.
“Frankly, whatever I have studied is for myself. But in the long term I would certainly like to be into administration and use my knowledge of sport and management for the betterment of it. I always believed that we should have a professional body, not an honorary one which can run the association without any problems. In the future I would like to be a part of it.”
As far as his comeback in hockey is concerned, Viren is not thinking about it.
“It is quite hypothetical. I am not thinking about it and it’s very difficult to come back now. But I am looking forward to playing in the Mumbai hockey league if I get an invitation,” he added.
He refused to comment on the IOC ad-hoc committee but praised India’s performance in the Azlan Shah Cup. “They played very well in Azlan Shah but we need to carry on the momentum in the future tournaments. I have always believed its not about young and old but who is the fittest of them,” said the Arjuna awardee.