Ahead of the India hockey team’s Australia tour, Poovanna CB, a first-time player from Karnataka, reflects on aspirations for the 2026 World Cup.
Poovanna CB
Bengaluru boy Poovanna CB, a 22-year-old hockey player, originally from Kodagu, has been included in the 24-member national team for the first time. “A couple of years ago, my goal was to be here in the core team. Now that I’m here, I’m just happy to play alongside those I’ve always wanted to play with,” he says, sharing his excitement. “All these players have a lot of experience in the game and I’m learning a lot. I admire Manpreet’s energy, seeing him play like that, Harmanpreet’s consistency and attitude towards the game, Hardik and how hard he plays, and Abhishek and Sukhjeet, who have made a lot of difference for the team in the last couple of years,” he adds, speaking to CE on the hockey field at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) grounds, ahead of his departure with the team to Australia for a four-match series.
The lead-up to the Australia tour has meant rigorous practice for Poovanna, with his days starting early and involving two training sessions before wrapping up in the evenings. He explains, “I get up at 6.30am, freshen up, have breakfast and mentally prepare for the intensity of the day’s training, which starts at 8.30am. Red days are high intensity, orange is a little intensive, and on green days we focus on technicalities and concentration.” In between practice sessions, the youngster has also been pursuing higher studies, “I’ve also been attending online seminars and classes for my MBA and try to read a few chapters of books in between,” he says.
Hailing from Kodagu and being surrounded by a rich hockey culture as a child was how Poovanna first got introduced to the sport. Recalling those early days, he credits his mother with pushing him to pursue the sport further, saying, “As a Kodava, we have huge hockey festivals and my dream as a kid was to play for the family team. I started in Class 5 and would play whenever I got some free time.” He adds, “It was my mom who really wanted to make me something of player. I got selected for one of the first batches in Ashwini Nachappa’s academy. Those three years really helped me grow. The coaches there taught me a lot in terms of my fitness and physicality – I think that’s when I grew up.”
Players from Karnataka and particularly Kodagu, were once a common sight in hockey teams but that hasn’t been the case for the last few years. Poovanna comments, “A few years ago, we had a lot of Karnataka players like Raghunath, SK Uthappa, SV Sunil, in the team which was really nice to see. It is sad that it’s just me now; I would like to see more players with me from Karnataka.” He speculates that the reason may be a lack of opportunities to compete. “We need more exposure tournaments where more players can play and talents can be found. There are hundreds of players and one tournament cannot accommodate them all. In Punjab, things have improved a lot, and there are many opportunities for kids to compete in and showcase their talents,” he says.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Bengaluru / by Mahima Nagaraju / August 12th, 2025
India also outclassed Pakistan in the 1975 WC final.
In the last half a decade, the Indian men’s hockey team have bagged two bronze medals at the Olympic Games, and that brought a lot of joy to the fraternity.
India had to wait a bit before experiencing Olympic glory, but that was not the case for a major part of the last 100 years. With 13 medals at the Olympic Games, and three at the World Cup, India is among the most decorated teams in the sport.
Reflecting on India’s glorious history, a two-time World Cup medallist (1973 and 1975) and an Olympic medallist (1972), BP Govinda said, “It is a nice thing and a big achievement that we can celebrate such a glorious 100 years of Indian hockey.
“The journey started all the way back in 1928 with our first Olympic medal, and we are all very happy that Hockey India is making a celebration of this landmark of 100 years.”
Considered to be one of the fastest players during his era, BP Govinda was a crucial part of the Indian team. In 1973, it was his goal that helped India overcome Pakistan in a thrilling semi-final, before they went onto finish with silver.
In the next World Cup in 1975, BP Govinda again played a big role in the team’s success, scoring important goals in the tournament, as India outclassed arch-rivals Pakistan in the final to win the coveted gold medal.
Reflecting on the memories of those World Cup campaigns, BP Govinda said, “1975 World Cup we really outclassed Pakistan in the finals, but before that Malaysia gave us a very tough time in the semi-finals.”
He further added, “When we won the gold medal in 1975 in the World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, there is no words to express the feeling. All the members of the Indian team were overjoyed, and there was a lot of emotions, as it was a first World Cup gold medal, and of course we were all very thrilled to stand on the podium.”
Now as a former player, and a fan of the sport, BP Govinda believes the current generation of players should always aim high.
He said, “As a team, the Indian men’s hockey team should always expect a lot from themselves. It is important to be aiming for the top prize, the team should always aim for a gold medal. We have won two bronze medals in the last two Olympics, I hope we can make it better in the next Olympics and World Cups.”
source: http://www.khelnow.com / Khel Now / Home> Field Hockey / by Alex / November 05th, 2025
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday announced a financial grant of Rs. 1 crore for Chenanda Cup Hockey Festival to be held in 2026 in Kodagu district.
Unveiling the Hockey Festival’s logo at his home Office ‘Krishna’ in Bengaluru, the CM praised Kodava community’s deep-rooted association with the sport.
The 26th Chenanda Cup Hockey will be held at Napoklu from Apr. 5 to May 2, 2026.
“Kodavas mean hockey and hockey means Kodavas,” he remarked, highlighting the region’s legacy of producing national and international-level players, including Asian Games.
Siddaramaiah lauded the Kodava community for preserving its cultural identity while excelling in sports. “Kodava culture has retained its distinctiveness and continues to thrive. It is a matter of pride for our heritage. Their talent and dedication have brought immense honour to the nation,” he said. Pledging Government support, he added, “We will provide Rs. 1 crore for Chenanda Cup Hockey-2026. I will also attend the matches.”
The event was attended by office-bearers of Chenanda Cup, Virajpet MLA and CM’s Legal Advisor Ajjikuttira S. Ponnanna, Kodagu District Minister N.S. Boseraju, Ministers Byrathi Suresh and Shivaraj Thangadgi.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / November 04th, 2025
Poovanna suffered a facial injury during the Hero Hockey India League 2024/25
Bengaluru :
After a brief stint with the Indian junior team in 2023, Poovanna Chandura Boby is now training with the senior core group ahead of European leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League leg. The 22-year-old is currently part of the senior national camp at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) Centre in Bengaluru and has made it into the 40-member core group.
With the junior team, Poovanna had a fruitful spell winning the Gold and Bronze medals at the 2022 and 2023 Sultan of Johar Cup respectively. He was also part of India’s Men’s Junior Asia Cup winning squad in 2023 and made it to the senior national camp in August 2024.
About his experience training in the camp, Poovanna said, “I’ve played for junior team in 2023 and now training with the senior players, I see a lot of differences between them and us. There’s a lot of work we need to put in to get to that level. It doesn’t matter how fit you are, you need to get much better to compete against European teams. We are getting gassed out every session, but we need to push hard to keep up. It has been a brilliant journey so far.”
Poovanna played the Hero Hockey India League 2024/25 for champions Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, however, he couldn’t play the complete tournament due to an unfortunate injury. In their seventh match against JSW Soorma Hockey Club, Poovanna suffered a facial injury while defending a penalty corner.
“It was a penalty corner and I generally don’t rush third, so I didn’t have my face mask on. Harmanpreet Singh fired a shot and it deflected off my teammate’s stick and hit my upper cheek. So, I was rushed off the field and I had to get my surgery done right away. I couldn’t play the rest of the tournament,” he explained.
He also revealed that he could have made his senior team debut during the home leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024-25 in Bhubaneswar but missed out on the opportunity due to his injury. “Thankfully we won the HIL but the coach told me that I was called up for the Pro League squad but I couldn’t go because of my injury. Hence, I joined the camp early, worked with the physio in order to get in good shape for the training camp in March,” he added.
Hailing from Kodagu, formerly known as Coorg, Poovana comes from a family where hockey is a proud tradition. The Kodava hockey festival is renowned worldwide for being one of the world’s largest hockey tournaments, with hundreds of families participating in the event as tradition.
“When I was a kid I used to watch those games and I always wanted to wear my family jersey, so that inspired me to start playing in school and I got naturally good at it. Playing for my family team was a dream come true for me after which I pursued the sport professionally. I have never had a Plan B, hockey has always been my top priority.”
Talking about the dynamic he shares with the other senior players of the squad, Poovanna shared, “The seniors are very easy to talk to and we youngsters learn a lot from them since they have been playing for a lot of years and have much better experience than us. We need to learn from them because we need to carry forward their legacy ahead in the coming years.”
“I look up to Manpreet Singh and Hardik Singh a lot because they play the position I play in midfield. I like how calm and composed they are when they get the ball and progress the game ahead. Some things that they do on the field are truly inspiring.”
Poovanna also spoke about his experience training under coach Craig Fulton. “I’m training under him right now and he’s really good. He’s easy to approach and you can ask him whatever you want and he gives you clear answers. Whenever we train, if someone does something wrong, he stops the game and he teaches them, which helps us a lot and gives a very valuable perspective.”
After missing out the opportunity in February, Poovanna is determined to make his Indian senior team debut and solidify his position in the squad during the European leg of the FIH Pro League. “The upcoming tournament is crucial for me and I will ensure I work on my shortcomings tirelessly and do my best with whatever chances I get,” he concluded on a strong note.
source: http://www.hockeyindia.org / Hockey India / Home / May 16th, 2025
The much-anticipated 6th Edition of the CHAIROS BHEEMAIAH HOCKEY CUP will take place from 10th to 12th January 2025 at the Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Hockey Arena, Bengaluru.
Organized by the Coorg Challengers Chickpet Association (CCCA) under the aegis of Karnataka Hockey, this inter-state tournament will showcase the best of Indian hockey in an exciting 5-A-Side format.
Sponsored by QNET, India, the tournament will witness 180 players from 20 teams vying for the championship title. Among the participants, fans can look forward to watching legendary former Indian hockey stars such as V.R. Raghunath, V.S. Vinaya, Amar Aiyamma, Nithin Thimmaiah, and Nikkin Thimmaiah bring their skill and expertise to the event.
The grand finale on 12th January will be a momentous occasion, with the winning team being felicitated by Padma Shri and former Indian Hockey Player M.P. Ganesh. The presence of former Olympians will elevate the significance of the tournament and inspire the next generation of hockey enthusiasts.
Mr. K.D. Ganapathy, President CCCA, representing the organisers, said, “We at CCCA are thrilled to associate with QNET, to announce the 6th edition of the 5-A-Side CHAIROS BHEEMAIAH HOCKEY CUP, taking place from January 10th to 12th in Bengaluru. This tournament reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting India’s national sport, hockey, and providing players from across India, with a platform to showcase their talent, while also promoting the growth and recognition of this incredible sport.”
Speaking about their association with the tournament, Nischal C, Head – Corporate Communications, QNET India region said, “We are honoured to sponsor the 6th edition of the CHAIROS BHEEMAIAH HOCKEY CUP, a prestigious event that celebrates the rich legacy of Indian hockey, while fostering a passion for the game among emerging players. Hard work, commitment, teamwork, and focus – these are the qualities needed to succeed and reach the top, both in business and in sports. We are excited to be part of this incredible and inspiring journey.”
The tournament, a hallmark event in Indian hockey, returns after its last edition in 2021, where Team Canara Bank clinched the title, defeating Coorg Gulf in a thrilling final. This year, the competition promises even greater excitement and intensity as teams battle it out for the coveted championship. The CHAIROS BHEEMAIAH HOCKEY CUP 2025 is more than just a sporting event – it’s a celebration of India’s hockey legacy and a platform for showcasing extraordinary talent and camaraderie.
source: http://www.contentmediasolution.com / Content Media Solution / Home> Sports / January 10th, 2025
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!
