For the love of the game
Tags:
“Good men are hard to find” so goes the saying. In this day and age where people are becoming more and more avaricious, good samaritans have indeed become something of a rare breed.
It is in this context that a little-known I. Gandhi, who has given his heart and soul to the sport of hockey, a sport that he loves more than anything that he can think of, comes as a breath of fresh air.
Incorruptible and someone who has an unshakeable belief in upholding moral values, Gandhi, who was a former Madras University captain and who represented his team Indian Overseas Bank with distinction for well over 15 years has put in strenuous efforts to give hockey its due recognition.
After establishing a hockey club called Nivifits in Chrompet in 2001, Gandhi has seen it grow from strength to strength all by the sweat of his own brow.
Under his watchful gaze over 450 budding hockey players have been nurtured and a select few have even gone on to make it big at the national level.
Elaborating on the nitty-gritties of the camp, the self-effacing Gandhi who likes to maintain a low-profile said, “The camp is being run for the last 12 years.
Hockey flows in my blood and it has become an intrinsic part of my life. I have received little help from the government or any association in this 11-year journey.
But I want to do everything in my power to give something back to the game that helped give me an identity.”
All his efforts at finding a sponsor to fund his camp have gone up in flames. But being the battle-hardened sportsperson that he is Gandhi, continues steadfastly in his pursuit to promote hockey in and around the adjoining areas of Chrompet regardless of how bleak the scenario is.
In his playing days, Gandhi won the award for best full-back in the Chennai league for three years running and also had the honour of captaining Tamil Nadu hockey team.
Speaking at length on the camp that he has organised single-handedly, Gandhi has this to
say: “Every year I select around 45-50 students.
The camp, which is conducted at the IRC ground, also includes girls who have an inclination to the game. I spend Rs 45,000 annually to provide the students with good facilities. Of the 45 students who come to train, seven best players will be handpicked at the conclusion of the camp.”
At a time when the issue of corruption is dogging every sports body in India, it is high time that we needed more selfless men like Gandhi who have only the best interests of sport at heart.
Post new comment