Carmel 5-a-Side Rink Hockey Starts Today in Mumbai

by K. Arumugam

May 1 2009: The third Carmel 5-a-side Rink Hockey tournament starts today at Bandra in Mumbai. Mp>

The event is organized for 6 categories including for boys under 12, boys under 14, school girls, women, private clubs and the super league and national teams. In all, 40 teams will take part, 54 matches will be played, the event will run for a week.

The hockey loving public of Bandra — this locality in Mumbai produced lot many hockey players and has a hockey tradition — thus gets to enjoy hockey at the grassroot levels, women’s hockey. Further, they will also have glimpse of former players of the country. A galaxy of former and present players are expected to grace the event regularly, most of them will also be coaching the participants in the run up to the tournaments.

Most of the matches will be played under floodlights.

“The matches will be exciting and entertaining for the crowds. Because the action is fast and furious, short duration of games (10 minutes each half for the school teams and 15 minutes each half for the senior teams)” says Viren Rasquinha, prime mover behind the event.

Arjuna Award winner Viren Rasquinha has recently completed his MBA course from the prestigious Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.

This year marks the 3rd edition of the annual tournament.

There will also be 4-day coaching camp for around 70-80 kids. Well known hockey stars like Dhanraj Pillay, Edgar Mascarenhas Sr., Edgar Mascarenhas Jr. (goalkeeper), Anil Aldrin, Devinder Kumar (all Air India) and Devesh Chauhan, Jaswinder Singh, Kamlesh Kumar (all Indian Oil)will be coaching these kids, besides Viren himself.