K. ARUMUGAM

Meet Maram Al Bahri, a student in Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, doing a five-year course in Physical Education. She’s a footballer, representing Basher FC and trains in Muscat. She watched a hockey match for the first time ever – an international at that – at the recently concluded Women’s Asia Cup. “I only watched hockey on videos in bits and pieces before that,” Maram said.

OHA President Dr. Marwan Juma al Juma  (r) discussing with women’s hockey admino Hanan Suleiman al Harrasi (c)

What drew her to the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex one wondered. My curiosity increases as Maram, one of 30 to 40 young women clad in traditional attire, watches hockey at the venue.

The first question shot at her was: “Do you like hockey? And if so, what exactly do you find attractive about the sport?” Maram replied: “Yes, I am new to hockey. I have now seen seven or eight matches. There’s a lot in common between hockey and football. The defence, backline and midfield have a similar pattern. The rules, however, are different,” she said in flawless English.

Trainee coaches-umpires enjoying the hockey environ at the Sultan Qaboos hockey stadium

She takes some time to grasp questions, however, but once she starts expressing herself one discerns her understanding runs deep. Amazing for a third year Bachelor’s student.

Maram is one of 30-odd young women attending a training program that was initiated and held on the sidelines of the Women’s Asia Cup. The venture is an initiative of the new hub of Gulf hockey, the Oman Hockey Association (OHA). Of course, with the blessings and support of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF).

Maram’s enthusiasm is directed towards becoming a coach or an umpire – the very idea behind the organization of the clinic. “I understand that for the first time hockey will be part of the curriculum in my training institute. It excites us!,” she said.

A straight question followed: “What’s your objective of doing the course? Will you start playing hockey and don the nation’s colours?” Pat came the frank, forthright and delightful answer: “No. I will first practice. After good practice I will take a decision.”

The football player is slowly understanding the sport of hockey

Any visitor to the Qaboos turf would have noticed group of these high-end mobile wielding, ever-alert and enthusiastic bunch, reacting to the field happenings and savouring every moment. Goals of course drew their most attention, clapping going on befitting the occasion. Everyone of course would have a note and pen, trying to write it down what they observed. Some local hockey buff like two umpires – both from Oman and only male among 10 umpires — helping them to understand the nuances. Its not an exaggeration that the GenNext group has been the salient feature of 10th Asia Cup.

Noura Al Nalki, 20, is among them, a regular at the venue. Like Maram, she’s doing a 4-year Physical Education course. The only difference is that she’s from Saudi Arabia – one of two from the Kingdom. They are studying Physical Sports Science in Princess Noura University, Riyadh.

Noura is a basketball player. Her take on getting to know a sport called hockey is enchanting. “It’s an enjoyable sport. I wish the tournament never finished as I want to enjoy watching more and more hockey,” she said.

Keenly watching the show on the turf, a big exposure to hockey

On the specifics which attracted her to the sport, she cited speed, concentration and flexibility.

She explained most of the above points in detail to an interpreter who perhaps was minimal with  translation. Doubtless, though, Noura had grasped the nuances of the game.

Responding to a query on whether hockey is dangerous as it is played at high pace with a stick and a little hard ball that sometimes flies around, she replies candidly: “No, the game is safe. I can feel it for sure.”

Her favourite team at Muscat event is Japan “as they are very strong and score beautiful goals.

What will she do when she returns to Saudi Arabia after finishing the course? Her mind’s clear on that. “ I would like to create a team,” she says without hesitating. Would she be able to attract players to form a team? “Yes. There are students from many schools who would be ready to play,” Noura said, confidence personified.

It seems the AHF and OHA’s vision of creating a pool of women players in the hitherto untapped or less-tapped Gulf region has led to an encouraging start. Significantly, it has struck a joyous and responsive chord with youngsters like Maram and Noura.

A gentle breeze is blowing across Gulf hockey. And this can only be good news for hockey’s global prospects.

Inside the Oman Hockey Association, Hanan Suleiman Al Harrasi is the driving force for developing women’s hockey while their work horse Ammatanda Shakunthala Bopanna being eyes and ears on the ground.

Oman’s new women hockey players keenly watching the Asia Cup

Much about the efforts to come. Wait for the space

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www.stick2hockey.com is India’s oldest hockey website. Launched in 1999, the website, edited and owned by hockey historian and author K. ARUMUGAM, has covered all major tournaments and events with precision. www.stick2hockey.com is the first site in the hockey world to bring viewers live text commentary and duly entered the prestigious Limca Book of Records. If vintage stories are what you are looking for, this site is the right one for you. You will also find pictures, some of them among the rarest, images of precious newspaper clippings, match reports, news breaks, interviews, features, statistics and history on a site respected by one and all in the hockey world.