Former hockey international Chandrasekhar plans to build an academy in Hyderabad
Former hockey international, N. Chandrasekhar plans to give back to the sport by setting up a hockey academy in his hometown in Hyderabad.
Published : Oct 27, 2020 19:25 IST
Former hockey international, N. Chandrasekhar plans to give back to the sport by setting up a hockey academy in his hometown in Hyderabad.
The 61-year-old, who is now based in Mumbai, is hosting an U-16 girls exhibition match between City XI and the Royal Club XI at the BHEL Ramachandrapuram ground on Wednesday.
The thought of helping the girls’ team came to his mind a few days ago. “I was giving away track suits and shoes to the winning team of the recent Inter-district championship a few days back, when some girls approached me to do something for them,” Chandrasekhar told
The former right-winger, who was in the Indian camp for the 1981 World Cup, the 1982 Asian Games and even Champions Trophy, will organise the exhibition match as a beginning to his efforts to promote the sport in a big way.
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“The match tomorrow is also a tribute to former Hyderabad Hockey Association secretary P. Kantaiah, who was also a patron of Royal Hockey Club,” he said. “Initially, the plan was to host a full-scale tournament but because of Covid-19 guidelines, we had to restrict to one match only,” Chandrasekhar said.
“I feel great to be back at BHEL where I was born. I also played a Test match for Indian Railways against Pakistan Railways scoring the winning goal too,” he said.
“In Navi Mumbai (where he is settled now), I am involved in a Hockey Academy which got Rs. 10 lakhs sponsorship recently to promote the sport in a big way,” said the Hyderabadi.