Chak De Diwali!

For the hockey players of Pragmatic Club, Diwali celebrations came a few days before the festival. Not only did they perform well and reach the finals of the VHA ‘B’ Division Hockey League, they also earned a handsome cash prize for their hard work. Before the start of the tourney, owners of the Pragmatic Club — Pragmatic Builders Pvt Ltd — had announced that the boys would get Rs 2000 for every win. That seemed to have inspired the youngsters as they went on registering win after win. By reaching the final, they pocketed Rs 15,000 and also received Rs 7000 from the Vidarbha Hockey

Association as prize money for finishing runners-up. “The boys have earned Rs 22,000 in all and we are distributing the amount among team members,” said Pragmatic coach Manish Gour. What makes the win special is the fact that the team consists mostly of teenagers coming from lower middle class families. For each of them, Rs 2000 is a huge boost. “It was like a Diwali bonus for us. I am planning to buy new clothes for me and plenty of crackers,” said a player. His team’s spirited stickwork has paid off, literally.