Shri E.P. Jayarajan, Hon’ble Minister for Sports,

Smt. J. Mecrykutty Amma, Hon’ble Minister for Fisheries

Shri K. Raju, Hon’ble Minister for Forests,

Adv. S. Rajendra Babu, Mayor, Kollam,

Shri N.K. Premachandran, Member of Parliament,

Shri Suresh Gopi, Member of Parliament,

Shri Mukesh, Member of Legislative Assembly,

Shri Karthikeyan, District Collector,

Shri P.R. Sreejesh, Olympian,

Shri V. Sunikumar, President, Kerala Hockey,

Shri R. Ayyappan, General Secretary, Kerala Hockey,

Sahodaree Sahodaranmare,

Ellavarkkum Ente Namaskaram.

 

I am very happy to inaugurate the 9th Hockey India Junior National Women’s Championship at Kollam. 

At the outset, let me convey my sincere greetings to all the teams which are playing in this Championship. The efforts that you take to excel in the game of hockey conveys to society, a message about the importance of the national game.

 

I also appreciate the dedication of Kerala Hockey in organizing this National Championship, through which they are effectively promoting the game. I am informed that Kerala is hosting a National Hockey event after a gap of 25 years.

 

Kerala Hockey also deserves appreciation for taking steps to promote the game of Hockey in schools and colleges apart from its affiliated District units and clubs. 

As we are aware, the game of hockey had become popular among women also, mainly because of its status as the national game. Besides, the victory of the Indian hockey team in various international forums including the Olympics and the stunning performance of the legends of Hockey, starting from Dhyan Chand also inspired them. The Golden era of Indian hockey was between 1928 and 1956, when we won six straight Olympic gold medals, winning 24 consecutive matches, scoring 178 goals and conceding only seven.

 

Like Dhyan Chand, the name Balbir Singh also evokes pride in us. In fact, for almost three decades, Indian team had five players with the name, Balbir Singh inspiring Hockey lovers with wonderful performance.  

This inspiration spread to Womens’ Hockey also, resulting in the Team finishing in the fourth place at the Women's Hockey World Cup at Mandelieu in France in 1974, and at the Moscow Olympics of 1980. 

 

The Women’s team had also won the Gold medal at the inaugural 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi, defeating Korea in the finals.

Though the Indian domination in Hockey could not go beyond the 1960 Olympics of Rome, with Pakistan defeating our team, the record created by India has remained firm, as no other country has ever managed to come close to it, let alone beat it.  Another fact is that though Cricket has become a passion almost everywhere in our country and cricketers are at the zenith of stardom, names like Dhyan Chand, K.D. Singh, Dhanraj Pillay and Dilip Tirkey continue to energize our minds with the flashes of their stellar performance in Indian hockey.

 

 In Women’s hockey too, we have been seeing some achievements like the team qualifying in the 2016 Summer Olympics of 2016 for the first time since the same event of 1980. Such performances show that our Women’s team is capable of doing better.  I hope the junior players competing in this Championship would play the game and work hard to improve their skills and performance with an Olympic medal or participation in mind.

 

In Kerala, I am told that ever since Shri P.R. Sreejesh became captain of the Indian Men’s Hockey team, there has been a renewed vigour among our youth in playing Hockey. 

I hope the appointment of this Padma Shri winner as Chief Sports Organizer in the Education Department will improve the prospects of Hockey in Kerala.

To conclude, participation in sports is now an opportunity for a career.  But, those in games should not see the game, especially the national game, as just a means for employment. Players are in a way, sports ambassadors of the game as well as their State or nation. When you play, you must work hard to perfect your skills and to adhere to the principle of fair play. I would also remind you that playing a game well is more important than winning.

I wish all the 800 players participating in this Championship all the best.  May this Championship offer you the opportunity to turn into a Preeti Sabharwal or Komal Chautala or Ritu Rani of the future. 

 

I once again compliment the office bearers of Hockey India and Kerala Hockey for organizing this championship at Kollam and for conducting this function in a befitting manner. Organizing such sporting events in cities like this helps to take the game to more people.

 

Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal

Thank You

Jai Hind