Kaverappa made his debut for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy 2021-22 last year.
Vidwath Kaverappa | via Twitter
He might be a novice on the Indian domestic cricket circuit, but Vidwath Kaverappa is already making heads turn. The 24-year-old right-arm pacer was adjudged player of the match – he took seven wickets in the first innings – in South Zone’s win against West Zone in the final of the recently-concluded Duleep Trophy. His wickets in the final included India internationals Cheteshwar Pujara and Suryakumar Yadav. He was also named player of the series, for his 15 wickets.
Kaverappa made his debut for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy 2021-22 last year, and got his first wicket in the match against Puducherry. He followed it up with three wickets against Uttar Pradesh. In the Maharaja Trophy T20 (formerly called Karnataka Premier League), his team Gulbarga Mystics emerged as champions, with Kaverappa taking 17 wickets.
The defining moment, though, came in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2022, where he came second on the bowling charts, with 18 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 6.36. He continued his good form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (17 wickets) and the Ranji Trophy 2022-23, where he took 30 wickets in eight matches.
He was bought by Punjab Kings for Rs 20 lakh in the IPL auction.
Early years
Kaverappa hails from a humble family in Coorg, Karnataka. He loved basketball and football as a child. But, it was in handball he represented Karnataka. Cricket came into his life at 10, and he decided to pursue it professionally after high school. Bangalore presented him with the necessary exposure and opportunities. He started out as an all-rounder and played for clubs like BEL Sports Club and South End Sports Club, under the guidance of Samuel J. Muthu. However, it was his bowling that caught the eye of the selectors, thus earning him a spot in the Under-19 and Under-23 Karnataka teams.
With a smooth run-up and a quick release, Kaverappa has been able to extract swing and bounce in equal measure. It has stood him in good stead in the ongoing Deodhar Trophy, too, having taken nine wickets so far – the top wicket-taker – for South Zone.
The lanky pacer understands that it’s still early days. “I am learning from every game. Since it’s the beginning of my career, I should learn as much as possible to take my state or any other team to a higher level.”
source: http://www.theweek.in / The Week / Home> News> Sport / by Uma S. / August 01st, 2023
CB Poovanna has excelled as a midfielder in the junior setup
CB Poovanna, a debutant in the victorious outfit that created history by winning the 2022 edition of the Sultan of Johor Cup, is now eager to help his team defend the title in Malaysia.
Passionate, eloquent, and analytical with a mature head on young shoulders, the 21-year-old from Kodagu feels blessed to have practised alongside Coorg-based veterans like SV Sunil and Arjun Halappa during his formative years.
Over the course of an exclusive interaction with Sportskeeda, the young midfielder traces his hockey journey back to the time when he dreamt of making it to the family team in Coorg while also looking back at the Johor Bahru win last year.
“In our Kodava community, hockey is a sport that runs in our blood. Everybody in our community plays hockey. My dad and brother used to play hockey. Having observed them on the pitch, I too wanted to play the game,” Chandura Boby Poovanna stated.
I started holding a hockey stick when I was in third grade. My first dream was to play for the family team. Within the family, there were a lot of hockey players. As a small kid, it isn’t possible for make it to the family team as there a lot of elder players,” he explained.
Being granted admission to track and field athlete Ashwini Nachappa’s KALS (Karaumbiah’s Academy for Learning and Sports) was a game changer for the young hockey aspirant who got to rub shoulders with the best in the business.
“When I was in the fifth grade, I was first allowed to wear the family jersey. I kept playing hockey for the sheer love of the game until there was a selection that happened at KALS,” CB Poovanna stated.
“My mum took me there for the selection. It was a three-day selection process and I was taken into the school on the basis of my performance there. There was a bond according to which I had to play for the school for three years after which I would be sent to SAI (Sports Authority of India),” he revealed.
The rise was evident as CB Poovanna earned a spot in the Hockey Bangalore team after having been selected by SAI but decided to train harder after failing to make the next grade.
An eventual place in the Hockey Karnataka squad led to Poovanna realising his dream after being selected in the team headed to Johor Bahru.
@Uthappask
“I started training harder and hit the gym on rest days after failing to progress from a core group of 60 players which was trimmed down to 30. COVID interrupted my progress for a bit before which I played for Hockey Karnataka,” he said while pausing to recall the precise details.
“Four players were finally selected from a group of 30 ahead of the Sultan of Johor Cup last year. I had realised a part of my dream,” CB Poovanna declared.
“At SAI, we played against an ex-India XI which boasted names like SV Sunil” – CB Poovanna describes the Coorg pedigree
Some of India’s best hockey talent has been nurtured in Coorg which boasts of having produced a host of legendary names. Unsurprisingly, Poovanna describes with an unmistakable sense of pride what it meant for him to have rubbed shoulders with the former India internationals.
“At the SAI campus, we used to play matches against an ex-India XI which boasted of players like SV Sunil and Arjun Halappa. You also had other greats from Coorg like SK Uthappa, VR Raghunath, Nikkin Thimmaiah, and Nithin Thimmaiah,” he stated reeling off the names effortlessly.
“I consider myself lucky to have played over three years of hockey with them. Aside from playing matches alongside them, we also used to ask them a lot of game-based questions about tactics,” Poovanna said.
The Karnataka player also recalled fellow midfielder and “exceptional” Bangalore boy Mohammed Raheel coming over to Coorg while still in school to play a tournament there. Raheel donned India colours under the tutelage of Graham Reid last year.
“I first met Raheel when I was in the sixth or seventh grade. My family had once called Raheel and a few other players to come over to play our family tournament in Coorg,” said CB Poovanna shedding light on the memories.
“Raheel was exceptional back then as well. He had great speed even on a gravel ground. He was an idol for me also because he plays as a midfielder,” the youngster added.
“CR Kumar has been exceptional as a coach” – CB Poovanna
CB Poovanna was all praise for coach CR Kumar
Several Indian players in the men’s and women’s camp have been tutored by veteran hockey coach CR Kumar who is now in charge of the junior boys. CB Poovanna was all praise for the committed coach who helped shape his career.
“CR Kumar has been exceptional as a coach. He is committed and totally into the sport,” said Raheel with an air of reverence. “He has shaped me from being who I was to who I am right now.”
Headed to Johor Bahru to defend India’s title at the 2023 Sultan of Johor Cup, CB Poovanna cannot help reminiscing about the glory of his debut international tournament victory.
“The 2022 Sultan of Johor Cup was my first international tournament. It was a really new experience, wearing the India jersey for the first time,” he stated.
A scintillating 5-5 draw against Great Britain witnessed Poovanna scoring a 7th-minute equalizer after the opposition had taken the lead in the opening minute of play.
@TheHockeyIndia
“It felt as if the hard work really paid off for us” – CB Poovanna turns the clock back in the big final against Australia
Six goals were scored in a frantic final quarter with the Indian boys finding the back of the net four times before taking on Australia in the big final.
“The match against Great Britain was pretty intense with one side taking the lead and the other cancelling it out,” recalled Poovanna. “Scoring the equalising goal helped motivate the rest of the team and that is when we all started pepping each other up.”
CB Poovanna opined that Australia’s equalising goal against India wasn’t legitimate but goes on to describe the pulsating shootout during which the Indians achieved victory.
“The pressure and intensity of the final is different. We scored the opening goal and Australia equalised but the goal wasn’t legitimate. There was actually a foul which happened in their circle which led to a goal in our circle. At the junior level, we do not have video referrals and hence were unable to challenge the goal,” he said.
“Both teams pressured each other for the ball and finally it led to the shootout which was going one way and then the next. Finally Mohit Shashikumar (the goalkeeper) made a great save after which we scored and won the tournament. It felt as if the hard work really paid off for us,” CB Poovanna affirmed.
The 2023 Sultan of Johor Cup begins on October 27 with the Indians facing Pakistan in their Pool B opener. Malaysia and New Zealand are also in Pool B while Australia, Great Britain, Germany, and South Africa find themselves in Pool A.
Will defending the title add to the pressure for captain Uttam Singh and co.?
“Not in the least,” shoots back CB Poovanna unhesitatingly. “The pressure will be on the opposition, for us being defending champions is a big motivation.
The final of the tournament is scheduled to be played on November 4 at Johor Bahru.
source: http://www.sportskeeda.com / Sports Keeda / Home> Field Hockey / by Subhashish Majumdar / October 23rd, 2023
Former India cricketers Suresh Raina and Robin Uthappa will be among the players to be part of the draft for the highly anticipated Legends League Cricket (LLC), which is scheduled to be played across five cities in India from November 18 to December 9.
The LLC Players Draft will feature over 200 players from across 12 countries and will take place at the Qutub Minar, with franchisee representatives along with marquee players and coaches attending the event virtually.
The Legends League Cricket Players Draft promises to be a grand affair which will be a unique fusion of culture and sports held at an iconic location, featuring a multitude of cricketing stars.
Players in the LLC 2023 Players Draft
Apart from Raina and Uthappa, some of the recently retired players such as New Zealand batter Martin Guptill, Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh from Australia, will be a part of Legends League Cricket for the first time.
Cricketing legends from across the world – Ravi Bopara, Kevin Pietersen, Nuwan Kulasekara, Morne Morkel, Xavier Doherty, and Dirk Nannes will also be participating in the draft.
Finch, Raina, Uthappa, Hashim Amla, Praveen Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Upul Tharanga, Abdur Razzak, and Lendl Simmons who have played LLC Masters Season 2 in Doha are all aligned to participate in the draft.
Legends such as Brett Lee, Ross Taylor, S. Sreesanth, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Daniel Vettori, Farveez Maharoof, William Porterfield, and Liam Plunkett, who were a part of the previous season will also be a part of the pool for the upcoming season.
Retained players list before LLC 2023 Players Draft
The defending champions, India Capitals, have retained their captain Gautam Gambhir and the highest wicket taker of last season Pravin Tambe along with Ashley Nurse to solidify their squad.
The Runners-up of the previous season, Bhilwara Kings, have retained their captain, Irfan Pathan along with their star players Yusuf Pathan and Shane Watson, while the Manipal Tigers have retained Harbhajan Singh, their captain along with Mohammad Kaif and Corey Anderson.
Gujarat Giants have announced their retentions – Universe Boss Chris Gayle, Parthiv Patel and Kevin O’Brien. With the league expanding and two new franchisees joining, they will announce their pre-signings prior to the draft.
Which are the venues for the upcoming LLC season?
A robust lineup of 19 thrilling matches will be played across Ranchi, Dehradun, Jammu, Vizag, and Surat. It will be a cricketing journey that promises to be unforgettable.
source: http://www.mykhel.com / My Khel / Home> Cricket / by Press Release / by MyKhel Staff / October 17th, 2023
Mukkatira Kavery Muthanna, a resident of Mysuru, is currently serving as a member of the officiating team in the game of golf at the ongoing 19th Asian Games, which are taking place in Hangzhou, China.
She holds a role in the Technical Rules Official team, which consists of 24 referees from various countries. The official rounds are scheduled to take place from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 at the West Lake Golf Course in Hangzhou, featuring 121 players.
Kavery Muthanna is well-qualified, having completed the Level 3 Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar (TARS) under the R&A. (R&A is a leading body within the world of golf and engages and supports activities to ensure it is a thriving sport for all on a global scale.)
She has actively officiated various amateur and women’s professional golf tournaments in India, showcasing her expertise in the field. Her experience also extends to her role as a Rules Official at the 36th National Games in 2022, held in Ahmedabad.
In addition to her involvement in golf and sports officiating, Kavery Muthanna is part of the Kavery Education Trust in Virajpet and serves as its Chairperson. She is married to Mukkatira Manju Muthanna and is the daughter of Guddanda Kanthy and Nanda Ganapathy.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / September 28th, 2023
The Indian tennis players defeated Chinese Taipei’s Tsung-hao Huang and Liang En-shuo 2-6, 6-3, 10-4 in the final in Hangzhou.
(Hangzhou2022.cn)
Indian tennis players Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale won the gold medal in mixed doubles event at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China on Saturday.
The second-seeded Indian duo defeated ninth seeds Tsung-hao Huang and Liang En-shuo of Chinese Taipei 2-6, 6-3, 10-4 in the final at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre. The match lasted one hour and 14 minutes.
Rohan Bopanna began the match with a terrific service game. However, Tsung-hao Huang and Liang En-shuo won two breaks in a row and held their serve to go 5-1 up, and eventually seal the first set 6-2.
“It’s been a learning experience for both of us,” Bopanna said about his partnership with Rutuja. “We had to understand each other, what our strengths are and what our weaknesses are.
“Today after we lost the first set I said, ‘Let’s change sides to return. We need something to change the match.'” the veteran Indian explained.
The change worked. Rohan Bopanna and Rutuja Bhosale fought back well in the second set and there was nothing separating both teams in the opening seven games. The Indian pair, however, levelled up with a decisive break in the eighth game and took the set 6-3 to induce a match tie break.
In the decider, Bopanna-Bhosale took early advantage and raced to a 6-1 lead in no time. There was some late resurgence from Tsung-hao Huang and Liang En-shuo, but it wasn’t enough. The Indian tennis players maintained the momentum and managed to take the tie break 10-4.
“I clearly had some nerves throughout the match, but not on the last point,” Bhosale said. “I was just thinking, ‘Give me my best serve right here,’ and I think I took my time to serve.”
Rutuja Bhosale won her maiden Asian Games medal while Rohan Bopanna added to his gold medal from Jakarta 2018. This was India’s second medal in tennis at the Asian Games 2023, following a silver in the men’s doubles event.
India have now won seven medals in the mixed doubles category – including three gold – at the Asian Games. Leander Paes-Sania Mirza at Doha 2006 and Saketh Myneni-Sania Mirza at Incheon 2014 are the other mixed doubles champions.
Overall, India have now won 10 gold medals at the continental meet in tennis .
source: http://www.olympics.com / Olympics.com / Home / by Anuraag Peesara / September 30th, 2023
The Association of Kodagu Golfers of J.W. Golf Club, Mysuru, will be holding the 22nd edition of Kodagu Cup Golf Tournament at JWGC premises in city on Oct. 7 and 8.
For details, contact Association Hon. Treasurer M.B. Nanaiah on Mob: 94486-02959, according to a press release from Association President Dr. P.A. Kushalappa.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Briefs / September 23rd, 2023
Twelve players from Sports Hostel, Ponnampet, Kodagu District, winners of U-17 State Level Hockey Championship, have been selected for School Games Federation of India (SGFI) School Nationals which will be held in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh in October 2023. The students come under the Mysuru Division.
The winning Mysuru Division team bagged laurels at the matches that were held between Sept. 8 and Sept. 10, 2023 at Sports School, Kudige.
While in match no.1, the Mysuru Division scored 8-0 goals against the Bengaluru Division, in match no.2, the Mysuru Division scored 10-0 against the Belagavi Division.
The winning streak continued in match no.3 where the Mysuru Division scored 3-0 against Sports School, Kudige, and in the last match, the Mysuru Division scored 6-0 against Kalaburagi Division.
The team proceeding to Gwalior includes Thanish Madappa, H.H. Deekshith, M. Nishanth, Pavan Ponnanna, Sohan Cariappa, B.P. Mohan, Vashik Ponnanna, Thanish Thammaiah, A. Mayur, C.M. Devaiah, Binn Bopanna and Krashank Kalappa.
The team coaches are K.M. Subbaiah and M.B. Ganapathy.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / September 22nd, 2023
An emotional Bopanna rested his India-shirt on the court, marking the end of his Davis Cup career in which he played 33 ties, winning a total of 23 matches including 13 in doubles.
Rohan Bopanna celebrates after winning the doubles match against Morocco’s Elliot Benchetrit and Younes Lalami Laaroussi at the Davis Cup World Group-II, in Lucknow, on September 17, 2023. ) | Photo Credit: PTI
Rohan Bopanna brought the curtains down on his Davis Cup career with a comfortable straight set win alongside Yuki Bhambri before Sumit Nagal won his reverse singles as India sealed the World Group II tie against Morocco 3-1, in Lucknow on September 17.
The 43-year-old Bopanna, coming out to play his 33rd and final tie, and Bhambri raced to a 6-2 6-1 win over Elliot Benchetrit and Younes Lalami Laaroussi in one hour and 11 minutes at the Mini Stadium.
India’s number one singles player Sumit Nagal outgunned Yassine Dlimi 6-3 6-3 in the first reverse singles to seal the home tie. The inconsequential fifth rubber was not played. It is only the second time that Nagal has won both his singles matches in a Davis Cup tie. He had achieved a similar result against Pakistan in 2019 in Kazakhstan. Nagal earned early breaks in both the sets, leaving Dlimi playing catch-up.
The win takes India to next year’s World Group I play-offs.
An emotional Bopanna rested his India-shirt on the court, marking the end of his Davis Cup career in which he played 50 matches in 33 ties, winning 23 rubbers, including 13 in doubles.
Watched by his family and friends, Bopanna acknowledged their and fans’ appreciation and blew kisses towards the stands.
About 50 of Bopanna’s family and friends flew to Lucknow to watch the Coorg player in action one last time in Davis Cup.
They were wearing T-shirts that had a tri-colour-waving Bopanna picture printed.
Younes could not hold his serve even once in the match while the Indians faced just one break point when Bhambri served and saved that too.
The Indians drew the first blood when they broke Younes. On a Bhambri backhand return at 30-15, Younes netted the volley. Bhambri smashed a volley winner on Younes’ return to earn the first breakpoint.
Benchetrit went for an angled volley winner on a Bhambri return but the ball went out as Indians led 3-1. Bopanna came out serving the next game at love to make it 4-1.
Younes’ serve came under attack once again in game eight. Bopanna found a winner at 15-15 and the Morocco player served a double fault to be down by two break points.
Yuki converted the set point with a volley winner on a feeble Younes return. The first set ended in a jiffy, just 34 minutes as the Indians lost five point on their serve.
Bopanna’s big serve was at work in the second set too as he began the proceedings with a comfortable hold but Bhambri’s serve came under pressure in the third game when at 30-all, his half-volley pick up flew out of the court.
The Indians, though, saved the break point.
Younes was up 40-0 on his serve in game four but lost his way, serving double fault and making a lot of unforced errors to lose his serve for the third time in the match.
Bhambri served out the match.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Sports> Tennis> Davis Cup 2023 / by PTI / September 17th, 2023
“You are never too old to reinvent yourself”, says Divya Madaiah who has been working as a patisserie for 15 years now. I met Divya at an Instagram live interview on long distance running. The interview was for a sports enthusiast from Maharashtra and Divya messaged me about how she started running at the age of 42!
I was not even half her age but I was inspired by her story. Talking to Divya who is a part of the Jayanagar Jaguars Squad in Bangalore, I knew that she could inspire all the women, housewives or working, especially in Kodagu.
She narrated her story to me, “I took fitness very seriously when my weighing scale showed a whooping 96 kilos in 2019! I had just got my left ovary removed due to dermoid cyst. I was thereby advised not to engage in any physical activity for 6 months. That really hit me hard as I am an over enthusiastic person in life. Resting for 6 months was a great challenge for me. Then I thought of making a few changes in my diet through a certified nutritionist where I learnt the art of quantified nutrition. I watched and weighed what went onto my plate. Gradually, I managed to reduce 10 kilos.”
“I also began weight training and then in February, 2020, I decided to join the Jayanagar Jaguars running academy. I was 42 years old with a mindset to change my lifestyle. Started off in March, weighing 87 kilos, where I struggled to even complete the walk sessions. Then came the lockdown, where everyone in my team felt demotivated, but I never gave up. I followed few workouts regularly, and thanks to the online fitness session called “Fit from Home” from the JJs, I was able to become stronger by day.”
The most important thing was Divya never failed to miss a day’s practice. Waking up in the wee hours and scheduling herself to fitness time at 4:30 am, Divya was prioritising her health along with running two brands, ‘Warriors Wok’ and ‘Batter n’ Beyond’.
“In June, I did my first 10k run and from then on, it’s no stopping for me. Here I am 18 kilos lighter after I started running. Not only did I change my lifestyle, but also maintained an enriching positive attitude.” She has been running even 15 km and recently completed her first half marathon in Airtel Delhi Half Marathon event.
For many, 2020 has been a trying year, full of demotivation and negativity. Here’s what Divya has to say about the year 2020 as she finishes TCS 10 K run strongly with a timing of 58m 34 secs!
“2020 has changed my character to a stronger, more powerful and a healthier version of myself. Times change, things change but only you change it by hard work. I know that there’s a lot more to achieve and a lot more to come.
Losing weight is not an easy battle. There is a lot of negativity circling around and you are surrounded by some people who bring your spirits down. Weight loss is something you do to improve your health.”
It would be surprising to know that Divya battled life’s deadliest health conditions like Hypothyroidism, PCOD, Asthma, Premature Menopause, Dermoid Cyst in the ovary, Cholesterol and Obesity! Her story is not about looking good by reducing weight but to battle all these health conditions and stay fit at 40, stronger at 50!
She remarks with a positive message for this new year, “Lastly don’t give up. We don’t give up on the people we love. So, how can you give up on yourself???” Divya hails from Coorg Arameri, Virajpet and keeps shuttling to Koramangala for work.
source: http://www.medium.com / Medium / Home / by Shrividya Somanna / January 13th, 2021
Pink, white, and red roses stood with pride outside his house in Konnankatte, a place located in the Southernmost part of Kodagu. A plot is full of rose plants and manicured buffalo grass for the lawn. Gradually, a small figure walks in. Once standing at a height of 5’8” with a sturdy build, Dr. M.P Ganesh has still not lost his wheatish complexion and spirited energy. He still wears a sacred thread which he sought from the darshan of Lord Venkateshwara believing in constant strength. The only transformation of this hockey legend from the 60’s to now was in his hair, from jet black to pristine white. He is an active person with an eye for detail.
He said, “You and I are the first ones to sit in this newly-made garden.” Dr. Ganesh kept two chairs in the middle of the lawn. I looked above me as I sat in one of the chairs, to see an old mango tree leaning to block enough sunlight. Around me, there were roses, of gold, silver, and bronze sparkling as the golden hues of the sun hit them. I was in awe, for I was only thinking … why is he taking so much pride in a rose garden, he who has seen the world with his hockey stick and having lived in different, beautiful places across the globe. He broke the silence as he read my mind. “This garden means so much to me because my wife takes pride in this. She loves flowers as much as I love playing hockey. So this is my accomplishment post-retirement. All my life, I have not been able to dedicate as much time to my family because of my professional life. My family was the sport itself. I used to eat, drink, and sleep hockey.”
Then he continued narrating his life story to me…
Sitting quietly in his chair and sipping the hot lemon tea, Dr. Mollera Poovaiah Ganesh was reminiscing the good old days. A man in his 70’s, he must be so proud of his achievements, but he was so proud of the rose garden and the lawn in front of his house in Kodagu. That showed his modesty. His age beckons him to set into an Autumn-Winter phase but his spirit and energy were like the Summer and Spring, still full of beans! Little did he know, having been born in a country at the time of its independence, that his life would be roses. But roses with thorns!
I was here to write his autobiography. My first book and that too first time, risking it all on this genre. At first, I often pondered as to how I would go about this because personally speaking, I swim in a sea of emotions. My writing reflects emotion and description. This is not so for Dr. Ganesh. He is a man of logic with an analytical mind and left-brained. However, I was only given the task of writing the book in his words and not his emotions. Often, simply, I had to imagine playing Field Hockey and winning medals at the Olympics and World Cups. Time and again, I could sense a patriarchal point of view from his side as opposed to my ‘girly’ world of thoughts, a war inside my head which I reluctantly put on paper.
It was my first day, my first time interacting with the narrator’s family. And this day became my Dear Diary Day because at first, I felt like I drove down to Wuthering Heights to meet Mr. Heathcliff after hearing so much about him. And the first thought that swept my mind in there, was that their life was all roses with thorns. There were perspectives and musings, all pertaining to pre-independence India from his end that was in war with the post independence world of thoughts from my end. Probably, I would have been able to write better if I could watch him play for real.
Dr. M. P Ganesh in action at the II Second World Cup (India vs. Netherlands)
Inside his country house, two photo frames caught my eye. One, a black and white frame of a young, ambitious Forward playing in Amsterdam at the World Cup.
You can see the playing style of young Ganesh. A footballer playing hockey, having sprint strides, playing long handle, bending his back lesser to hold the stick, often with a right leg forward and the ball on the right side. This angle provided a wrong view of the ball for the goalkeeper when Dr.Ganesh scored.
Mrs. and Mr. Ganesh with their late son, Ayyappa
The other, a bubbly young child, in all smiles… a photo of his only son who succumbed to a deadly disease at 20 years of age. I was often told by many that the son, Ayyappa was a born sprinter, very talented.
“I always imagine that my son, Ayyappa is looking and smiling from above. My son like a twinkling star in the night sky. If I ever come across a sports talent, especially amongst the workers, I quickly make sure that they reach the right training body because I became a hero from being a zero. I know that I scripted my story and Lady luck was always with me but what is luck without a little tarnishing and hard work, ” he quips.
The wife, Mrs. Prema Ganesh is truly a strong woman, devoid completely of any emotions there is, very rhetoric and straightforward in her talk. An avid reader, she loves History and Sociology. At 19, she was sent with her newly married husband to Italy soon after exams and marriage. Her world was quite like the solitary reaper, with language becoming a barrier. Her husband would travel often for the Games and that’s when the books became her best friends. The flowers outside her house today were like children to Mrs. Ganesh. She nurtured, cared for, and admired them. She used to be an athlete in her school days.
The world called Dr. M.P Ganesh the Indian Tiger of Hockey. The tiger himself had something to tell about this…“Grace, strength, agility, and enormous power. A tiger has all these qualities and is, therefore, our national animal. People thought that I was the “king of hockey” like the tiger was the king of the jungle. And to think of it, my life would have been different if I had not run away to the army. A tiger takes risks, chases behind its goals, is all alone yet determined. A tiger is a royal animal. I was chasing behind money, but money did not make royal. My passion did. So, I started chasing my passion. I’ve had many setbacks in life, but I believe life’s a game and we must play it until its end. Everyone who makes it to the end with something to give to society is a winner. It need not be big; it can be little yet significant.
I wish to relive those days because those were the days. Days like roses. But roses with thorns.”
Living the Dream: An Autobiography of Dr. M.P Ganesh is available in Notion Press store, Amazon, Kindle, iBooks, Google Books, and Kobo. Check the link below!
