GIRLS’ HOCKEY ACADEMY

Negi launches academy

Mumbai: For a major part of his life, Mir Ranjan Negi has lived, and relived, nightmares. Starting from that 1982 Asian Games (7-1) defeat to Pakistan where he was the goalkeeper, to being branded a fixer and traitor after that loss, to his 19-year-old son’s tragic death in a road accident a few years back… He’s been through it all.

Then, ‘Chak De’ happened. Suddenly, he was the toast of the nation. Nightmares were passe. He’s been living a dream since. But unlike others, he’s making his dreams turn into reality.

On a balmy Tuesday afternoon, at the hallowed turf of the Brabourne Stadium, one of his dreams took shape, in the form of a women’s hockey academy. The Salaam Bombay Hockey Academy, for now, will be based in the premises of Guru Nanak School, Sion Koliwada.

“I have been dreaming about this for the last three years. But it involved a lot of things. First and foremost was the tough task of motivating
the parents to send their girls to the academy. Opening an academy is easy, but sustaining it is difficult. So I approached an NGO, the Salaam Bombay Foundation, and they have been a great help,’’ says Negi.

Though it was officially launched on Tuesday, the academy began its activities about a month back. “As many as 60 girls from three schools are currently training at the academy. Even after persuading their parents, the more difficult task was to motivate the girls, to instil the passion for the game. I showed them ‘Chak De India’, I narrated them my own story, I called the actors who had acted in ‘Chak De’ to talk to the little girls. I want them to eat, drink, live hock ey,’’ adds the former India goalkeeper and coach.

And this is only the beginning. “I plan to open at least 20 such academies in and around Mumbai over the next one year. Many corporates have shown interest to support the initiative. I will involve Bollywood too. In these trying times, hockey surely could do with a dose of glamour,’’ he chuckles.