Hockey Te Charcha

In the 53rd episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we sat down with Shri Ashok Kumar, the son of the legendary Major Dhyan Chand and recipient of the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hockey India 6th Annual Awards 2023. Shri Ashok Kumar was part of the greatly revered side that won India's only World Cup title, against Pakistan in 1975. He was the one who scored to complete the 2-1 victory over Pakistan in the Final. Additionally, Ashok is a proud recipient of the prestigious Arjuna Award in 1974. In this episode, Ashok Kumar expressed his emotions upon receiving the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award. He took us through the nerve-wracking 1975 World Cup Final against Pakistan through his eyes and shared anecdotes from the life of his father, Major Dhyan Chand. Ashok Kumar also shed light on the hardships present in Indian Men's Hockey Team midfielder Vivek Sagar Prasad's battle while training under him and outlined his expectations from the current squad at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

In the 52nd episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we spoke with M.M. Somaya, the former Captain of the Indian Men's Hockey Team, renowned for his role as a defending-midfielder. Somaya, a pivotal figure in Indian hockey, secured gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and continued his illustrious Olympic journey in 1984 and 1988, both as a player and Captain. Alongside his sporting achievements, he excelled in a successful corporate career with Bharat Petroleum, receiving the Lifetime Achievement award from the Petroleum Sports Promotion Board in 2007. At 64 years old, Somaya is also a proud recipient of the prestigious Arjuna Award. In this episode, Somaya shares insights into the current state of Indian hockey, with a specific focus on women's hockey and the upcoming 14th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship. Addressing the recent setback of the Indian women's hockey team failing to qualify for the Paris Olympics, Somaya views it as a temporary obstacle that can be overcome through strategic improvements and effective coaching. Don't miss out on the veteran's perspectives on the sport.

In the 51st episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we catch up with the former Captain of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team and Padma Shri Award recipient, Eliza Nelson, who speaks about her journey in the sport and the culture of women’s hockey back in the day. Eliza was the Captain of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team, which clinched the historic Gold medal at the 1982 Asian Games held in New Delhi at the jam-packed Shivaji Stadium. She was also part of the Indian team that finished fourth in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games, their first-ever appearance at the quadrennial extravaganza. Tune in to listen...

In the landmark 50th episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we spoke with Indian Junior Women's Hockey Team defender Preeti, who will be Captaining Team India in the upcoming FIH Hockey Women's Junior World Cup 2023, which will be held in Santiago, Chile from November 29th to December 10th, 2023. Preeti, who also led India to the Women's Junior Asia Cup gold medal earlier this year, spoke about the team's preparations for the tournament. The tournament will feature 16 teams divided into four pools. India are in Pool C, alongside Germany, Belgium, and Canada. Pool A includes the defending Champions the Netherlands, South Africa, Australia, and Chile, while Pool B includes Argentina, Korea, Spain, and Zimbabwe. Pool D includes England, the United States, New Zealand, and Japan. Despite the tough competition, Preeti is confident that India will be able to secure a medal in the tournament. Tune in to hear...

In the latest edition of Hockey Te Charcha, we delve into the experiences of the esteemed Indian Junior Men’s Team Coach, C R Kumar. We discuss his transition from a hockey player to a coach, as well as his thoughts on the ongoing Sultan of Johor Cup and the upcoming FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup 2023. Coach C R Kumar offers sound advice on how young hockey players can prepare to face challenges both on and off the pitch. He is currently in Malaysia for the Sultan of Johar Cup 2023 in Johor. He also discusses the performance of the Indian Junior Men's Hockey Team in the tournament.

In the latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, former Indian Men’s Hockey Team goalkeeper, Adrian D’Souza, praises the Hockey India Sub-Junior National program for its remarkable efforts in nurturing budding hockey talent. Adrian, who recently joined the coaching staff at the Sub Junior National Camp, shares his enthusiasm for his new role and the profound impact of this initiative on young players. The podcast also explores the holistic approach of the Sub Junior National camp, which provides players with an Olympic village-like experience, incorporating off-field skills and learning from accomplished coaches like Sardar Singh, Rani, Asunta Lakra, Lazarus Barla, and Lilima Minz. Adrian expresses confidence in the Sub Junior Teams' potential for future success and India's pursuit of a Gold medal in upcoming tournaments. Additionally, Adrian shares insights into the growth of fellow goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, emphasizing the importance of developing a unique style. He reflects on Sreejesh's journey from facing language barriers and cultural shocks to becoming a remarkable icon in Indian hockey. Tune in for more from him.

In this episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we sit down with Sukhjeet Singh, a young Indian Men's Hockey Team forward who discusses his hockey journey thus far. The 26-year-old made his debut for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team in the FIH Pro League 2021-2022 season. Since then his growth has ensured a spot for him at the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar - Rourkela and the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023. He credits his father for encouraging him to pick up the stick and eventually make a name for himself. Sukhjeet also discusses the difficulties he faced after being injured, as well as the support that enabled him to make a full recovery. Sukhjeet Singh is now in Hangzhou, vying to clinch the gold medal at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 with the Indian Men’s Hockey Team.

In a candid conversation on the latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, a podcast series launched by Hockey India, Indian Women's Hockey Team Chief Coach Schopman discussed the team's preparations and how the players and coaching staff deal with the pressure of being the favourites. With a chance to secure a direct qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Indian Women's Hockey Team are aiming to finish Hangzhou Asian Games with a Gold medal. India, which are placed in the Pool A for the Asian Games along with Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong China and Singapore, will open their campaign against Singapore on 27th September 2023. India will next face off against Malaysia on 29th September 2023, followed by Korea on 1st October 2023 and Hong Kong China on 3rd October 2023. Meanwhile, Japan, China, Thailand, Kazakhstan and Indonesia form the Pool B.

In the latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, the focus is on the Indian Men’s Hockey Team Captain Harmanpreet Singh and Vice-Captain Hardik Singh. The duo talks about the significance of special camps held by Goalkeeping Coach Dennis van de Pol and Mental Health Conditioning Coach Paddy Upton, and the team’s preparations for the upcoming tournaments including the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 and the all-important Hangzhou Asian Games. Captain Harmanpreet also talks about why Chennai holds a special place in his heart and Chennai hosting an international hockey tournament after 16 long years. In a free-wheeling conversation, Hardik Singh shares his excitement on completing 100 International Caps for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team and what it means for him to represent the country at a global level. Tune in for more from them.

In the latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, the focus is on the Indian Men’s Hockey Team Chief Coach Craig Fulton, who brings a wealth of experience to the table. The 48-year-old South African, who joined the Indian team a couple of months ago, is currently gearing up for forthcoming major challenges - Hangzhou Asian Games. Fulton comes with around 25 years of coaching experience and has achieved many milestones during his career. Under his guidance Ireland Men’s Hockey Team qualified for the Rio Olympic Games 2016. This was the Irish team's first Olympic qualification in 100 years and the historic feat also saw Fulton winning the FIH Coach of the Year award in 2015. Fulton was also working as the Assistant Coach with Belgium Men’s Hockey Team when they won the Gold medal in Tokyo Olympics. He was part of the Belgian coaching staff when the team lifted the World title in 2018, in Bhubaneswar. In a free-wheeling conversation, Fulton shares his coaching philosophy, the Indian team’s determination, and the crucial role of mental conditioning in achieving excellence. Throughout the podcast, Fulton's positive outlook shines through as he discusses his belief in seeing potential rather than limitations. Tune in for more from him.

The latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha focuses on Savita, the dynamic goalkeeper who serves as Captain of the Indian Women's Hockey Team and brings a wealth of experience to the table. Savita was instrumental in India's historic Bronze medal victory at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022. She also led the team to victory in the inaugural FIH Nations Cup. The 32-year-old Haryana native has won several awards in her decade-long career, including the Arjuna Award. She was also instrumental in India's historic fourth-place finish at the Olympics in Tokyo. For her recent achievements as the Captain and goalkeeper of the Indian Team, Savita was honoured with the Hockey India Balbir Singh Senior Award for Player of the Year 2022. In this episode, Savita shares her thoughts on the progress that the Indian Women’s Hockey Team has made in the last decade and how hockey has improved the livelihood of women players. Do tune in to hear more from the star goalkeeper.

In this latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we catch up with the charismatic Indian Men’s Hockey Team Captain Uttam Singh, who has his heart set on lifting the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup. The 20-year-old, who was awarded the Hockey India Jugraj Singh Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2022, shared his journey from humble beginnings to leading the Junior Men’s Hockey Team on successful campaigns in the Sultan of Johor Cup and Junior Men’s Asia Cup. According to Captain Uttam Singh, there is a lot more that the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team have left to achieve. The team has now set their sight on the upcoming FIH Junior Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur in December. Well aware of the expectations from the Indian Junior Men’s Hockey Team, Uttam is quietly confident of a good outing later in the year. Tune in to listen...

In this latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we catch up with dynamic Indian Women’s Hockey Team forward Mumtaz Khan, who is looking forward to the Junior Women’s Asia Cup which is a qualifying event for the FIH Junior Women’s World Cup 2023. The 20-year-old, who won the Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2022, shared her journey from the KD Singh Babu Stadium, Lucknow to winning the FIH Rising Star of the Year 2021-22. She recalls battling with major injuries while braving societal pressures on her way to winning these awards and being named in the Indian team for the Hero FIH Hockey 5s Lausanne 2022. Speaking optimistically, she emphasized that the team will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to return home victorious from the Junior Women’s Asia Cup which is scheduled to begin on 2nd June in Kakamigahara, Japan. Press play to hear more from Mumtaz...

For the 40th episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we spoke with Hardik Singh, the flamboyant midfielder and Vice Captain of the Indian Men's Hockey Team. He was instrumental in India's Bronze medal feat at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. The 24-year-old has risen through the ranks and has represented India in a number of significant events over the last five to six years, including the 2018 Men's Hockey World Cup and the 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup. Hardik also bagged the Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2022 for his outstanding performance. In this episode, the youngster opens up on how he always dreamt of winning the prestigious award and how hard work helped him overcome the setbacks in his career including his untimely exit from the 2023 Hockey World Cup in Odisha due to an injury. Tune in for more from the star player.

In the most recent episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we spoke candidly with Gurbux Singh, widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players in history. He played a crucial role in India’s Gold medal feat at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. He was also part of the Indian Team that won Gold in the Asian Games in 1966 and was truly part of what can be called the ‘second golden era’ of Indian hockey as they dominated the 60’s after India had successively won Gold in the Olympic Games up until the 1960 Olympics ended their campaign with a Bronze for the first time since independence. He served the sport in various capacities and was befittingly honoured with the Hockey India Major Dhyan Chand Lifetime Achievement Award 2022. In this episode, he reminisces about his playing days and thanks Hockey India for carrying on the legacy of the sport by putting the right development programmes in place to bring back the sport's golden era. Tune in for more from the legend.

In this latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we caught up with the visionary Hockey India President Padma Shri awardee Dr Dilip Tirkey. As a former India Captain with over 400 international caps, Tirkey spoke eloquently about his plans to revive and restructure the domestic circuit in the country, with special emphasis on U17 and U19 age groups. In this freewheeling conversation, he shares his thoughts on introducing a new system that is not only beneficial for the athletes but will also help the selection committees and the administration immensely. He also expressed his feeling of immense pride in the immaculate execution of the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela hosted in two world class venues with packed audiences for India and Non-India matches. Tirkey spoke candidly about his new innings as the President of Hockey India and dealing with the pressure of living up to the expectations. To listen to more on the former India Captain's vision for India hockey, tune into this latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha.

In this episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we speak with Indian Men’s Hockey Team midfielder Shamsher Singh, who hails from Punjab, and is looking forward to the start of FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar-Rourkela 2023. Shamsher, who has played 47 games for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, said that the team is excited to play their first game at the new 'jewel' of hockey, the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela. The 25-year-old was also pleased to see the enthusiasm among fans in Rourkela, where match tickets were sold out within a week of the Box Office opening outside the stadium.

In this latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we caught up with the dynamic Indian Men’s Hockey Team forward Lalit Upadhyay, who is looking forward to the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. If things go well, Lalit will be playing his third consecutive World Cup and his second on home soil. Lalit, who made his debut for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team at the 2014 World Cup, shared his thoughts on his journey from his birthplace in Banaras- Varanasi to winning the historic Bronze medal at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. He recalls returning home to rousing welcome after winning the Olympic medal, as he is only the second player from Varanasi after the great hockey wizard Mohd Shahid to win a medal at the prestigious Games. Speaking candidly, he emphasized that the team will use the confidence boost from the Tokyo Olympics to put on a show for their supporters in Odisha. The experienced forward also talks about his pride in representing hockey from Uttar Pradesh and the specialty of hockey nursery in Karampur which has produced several international players over the years.

In this latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we speak with the Indian Men’s Hockey Team midfielder Sumit, who hails from Haryana, and is looking forward to the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. Sumit, who has won numerous medals with the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, said that he is working hard to get into the squad for the upcoming mega-event. The defender reflected on his tough childhood which made him the strong sportsperson he is today. He also spoke about dealing with the loss of his mother in 2020 and despite the circumstances how he never lost focus to succeed at the Olympic Games. A Bronze medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Sumit also spoke about the preparations of the Indian Men’s Hockey Team for the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. Do tune in to listen...

In this episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we speak with Indian Men’s Hockey Team defender Amit Rohidas, who hails from Odisha, and is keenly looking forward to the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. Amit, who has played more than 100 games for the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, said that playing on home turf is a great feeling and praised the fans for being a source of motivation for him and his teammates. The defender also added that many people have already told him about how they’re eagerly awaiting the FIH Odisha Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar and Rourkela. A Bronze medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Amit explained that the Indian Men’s Hockey Team are taking their preparations for the showpiece event in January step by step.