In a first, hockey players to get free coaching

VADODARA: Despite gloomy scenario in the national hockey circuit owing to financial crisis, the city is putting its best foot forward to produce talented hockey players who can make it to the Indian team. The Baroda District Hockey Association (BDHA) has first time in its history decided to provide free professional coaching to the players. Hockey aspirants from all over the city will be given professional training round the year from Sunday.

The step has been taken to promote hockey and provide talented players to the national and international team. “We want the city’s glory back to where it was in yesteryears. Vadodara has given several national and international players including Olympians to the country. In fact, ours is the only city from the state to give international players,” said BDHA president Nilesh Patel.

“Hence, we decided to start providing free coaching to the aspirants who are serious about the game. This is also for the first time that hockey coaching will be given round the year. We have already roped in two professional coaches who will be paid by BDHA. Earlier, coaches were never paid for their services,” Patel added.

Sanjay Aerke and Dhawal Mohite will coach the players professionally and also focus on their physical fitness. “We want mass participation from hockey players so that we get quality players who can be trained further. Free coaching services will help us attract a lot of aspirants. We have already approached over a dozen schools in the city that have agreed to send their students for coaching,” Aerke told TOI. BDHA has Ranjitsinh Gaekwad, scion of the royal Gaekwad family, as their patron in chief. Gaekwad has given a huge piece of land on Rajmahal Road for playing hockey and organising tournaments.

BDHA already has about 70 students, who attend the coaching sessions that are kept five days a week. “We are also preparing plans for providing physical and psychological fitness through workshops. We just want financial support from corporate sector to revive and promote hockey,” said Vikas Prajapati, joint secretary, BDHA.

Vadodara has given national and international hockey players like late Govindrao Sawant (Olympian), Nana Saheb Chauhan, Shankarrao Gaekwad, G J Gaekwad, Shivajirao Gaekwad, Raghunath Kadam and Rajesh Pawar.