Nagpur Tourney Boost For India For Junior Asia Cup

Nagpur: Mrinal Chaubey started off as a defender but destiny had scripted a different role for the versatile hockey player. A directive from the coach put him in front of the goalpost and from then on there was no looking back for Mrinal. Now, the Rajnandgaon custodian is all set to give his best in the Junior Asia Cup Hock ey Championship starting at the Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad from July 11.

Mrinal who represented the country in many junior events was picked for Under-21 Asia Cup tourney for the first time. India are termed favourites to defend their title which they won four years ago beating hosts Pakistan in Karachi. Speaking to TOI from Hyderabad, where Indian contingent is undergoing a pre-tournament camp, a much-elated Mrinal said, “As we are the hosts, and also the defending champions we will enter the tournament with an aim of retaining the title.”

Mrinal, who learned the basics of the national game at Rajnandgaon—well-known as nursery of hockey in Chhattisgarh, started as a centre half when he was just 11. But then on insistence of coach A Touppo he became a goalkeeper. Chhattisgarh were short of a goalie in the 2001 National championship which gave Mrinal a chance to man the citadel. In one of the matches Mrinal saved three off five attempts in the tiebreaker and Chhattisgarh won the game. From that match a defender became a goalkeeper.

Just as destiny the city of Nagpur too played an important role in shaping up Mrinal’s career. It was in the Orange City that his golkeeping credentials got noticed during the All-India Invitational DRM Challenge Cup Hockey Tournament in 2005, where he played for Central Railway, Nagpur. His team finished runnerup to the SECR Secunderabad 4-3. “Though we lost the final match I was adjudged best goalkeeper of the tournament which was a great confidence booster. Nagpur’s tourney helped me a lot,” revealed Mrinal.

In the same year he made his maiden entry into the international arena. After a string of good performances in national meets, Mrinal was selected for the India camp held at Chennai. Consequently he got selected in the Indian team for the invitational under-18 Singapore international championship.

Next year too he was selected for the same event. Mrinal’s best performance at the international level came in the match against archrivals Pakistan which India won 2-1. Mrinal says, “From that match I came to know what playing for your country means.” Mrinal’s performance during the eight-nation international event at Malasiya in January 2008 helped him gain a spot in the Junior Asia Cup camp.