Times of India: An IIT-an who had a dream for Indian hockey

NEW DELHI: The Indian hockey might not have been excelling at the Olympics since 1980, but the history of the sport in India has always managed to be enriching. Back in 2008, when for the first time, the Indian hockey team did not qualify for the Olympics, many sections of the sporting fraternity, fans included, had to endure heartbreak.

But while for many followers – for whom sports in India begins and ends with cricket – weren’t really bothered, those who cherished what Indian hockey stands for started becoming restless. One such case in point is K Arumugam.

A water expert, who did his engineering from IIT-Mumbai, Arumugam was serving India’s government sector, but the news of India not qualifying for the perennial event disturbed him to an extent that he picked up a hockey stick himself and took upon himself to transform the condition of Indian hockey. “When we did not qualify for Beijing, it came as a shock for the hockey lovers,” Arumugam said.

On further exploration, Arumugam found out that the roots of hockey itself wasn’t promising in India. Many children had no clue about the sport, and those who did, had no infrastructure. The need of the hour was to make situations for hockey and those wanting to pursue the sport better. Arumugam established the OTHL (One Thousand Hockey Legs), and began the hunt for such children.

Arumugam began the search in Pondicherry and managed to set up playing conditions before taking it to Chennai, Kanpur, Kolkata and capital city Delhi. Regarding the process, Arumugam said: “We go to schools and ask the principal for permission. Then we select students from Class 6th and 7th and provide them hockey kits. To ensure they get better at their game, we keep a coach as well. Often we take them to watch hockey matches across the city so it keeps their interest in the sport going.”

It’s been eight years that the little dream that Arumugam had is now a full-fledged reality. Out of approximately 2500 students, many have reached national level and that day isn’t far when they represent India at the highest level.