A family renews its sporting vows

Swallowing his rotis in huge chunks, the 56-year-old Ashok rattles off the preparations for the grand centenary celebrations. But ask why none of the other siblings made it to the A-list of Indian hockey — Ashok played in two Olympics (1972 and ’76) and is now coach of Indian Airlines but the other six brothers struggled — and Ashok looks like he’s been deliberately stick-checked.

‘‘That’s not true at all,’’ he tries to explain. ‘‘Six among seven brothers played hockey – and good hockey. All of us were talented.’’

Still, only one Olympian among 11 offspring?

‘‘That’s true,’’ he admits slowly, adding that Raj Kumar Singh, five years older, didn’t ‘‘get the break’’ at the right time. ‘‘Virendra, the youngest, is laidback by nature. His lazy elegance impressed many, but he could only make it to the junior India ranks.’’

Virendra — everyone calls him Chhote — has just come from Lucknow, where he works for Indian Airlines. Older brother Sohan Singh saunters in just then and Ashok introduces him: ‘‘Sohan bhaisaab never really took to hockey,’’ he smiles. ‘‘My preference was always athletics,’’ Sohan says curtly. ‘‘The 100m sprint, javelin and shot put.’’

Now retired, Sohan lives in the ancestral home, just a narrow lane away from the Heroes Ground, nurtured lovingly by Dhyan Chand while he was alive. He remembers ‘Dadda’ well and is full of anecdotes and stories about him. ‘‘You know, once Dadda happened to see a fleeing robber and flung his hockey stick at him, from quite a distance,’’ he says. ‘‘He threw it so powerfully and accurately that the stick tripped the man and he was caught!’’

Devendra and Umesh, two other brothers, join the meal late, as Ashok describes the others in the family who had ‘‘successful, though small’’ stints with the sport: Mohan played at state level and so did Umesh. Devendra officiates at hockey matches, he adds, beaming: ‘‘He’s a national-level umpire.’’ Devendra missed an opportunity due to an elbow injury, Ashok adds. ‘‘He had to be operated four times. A year-long lay off and that was the end.’’

Still, just playing well and fair, something their dad taught them — is good enough, Umesh says. As they grew up, the verandah of their single-storey home was decorated with photos of their father.

Star power
Mohammed Shahid, who mesmerised oppositions with his deadly speed and astonishing stick work, arrived at Jhansi’s Heroes Ground accompanied by a clutch of local players. He’d hardly stepped out of his car when he spotted Ashok Kumar and greeted him with a loud ‘Jai Hind sir’ and went on touch his feet. Of course, the Singhs enjoy the respect of many senior hockey players. Not without reason.