Hockey-Nilgiris Urges Government to Lay Synthetic Turf in the District

Hockey enthusiasts and administrators in the Nilgiris have urged the government to expedite the establishment of a synthetic hockey turf in the hill district to support modern training and nurture emerging talent.

S. Anantha Krishnan, president of Hockey-Nilgiris, highlighted that the district has historically served as a hockey hub, having produced more than 70 players who competed at the national level across various categories, along with two international representatives. However, the lack of modern synthetic turf has become a significant hurdle for players attempting to compete in contemporary national and international tournaments.

According to Krishnan, the district's climatic conditions, particularly around the Coonoor limits, offer an ideal high-altitude training environment. In the past, the 1968 Indian men's Olympic squad trained in the Nilgiris, and the district hosted the Rangaswamy Cup national championship in the Coonoor-Wellington area during the same year.

The Nilgiris continues to maintain an active hockey culture, housing nearly 15 exclusive hockey clubs with 30 teams alongside various school teams. Prominent players from the district who reached national competitions include Anand Kumar, Deepak, Vignesh, Badhusha, Suraj, Deepak Aravind, Manikandan, Parithi Ilamvazhuthi, Lingarajan, Kavin, Manoj, Melwin, Sijumon, Rajkumar, and Vinod Sanjay. Additionally, K. Ganesh played in a four-nation junior tournament, while C. Ashok Kumar served as an analyst for the senior men's team at the Tokyo Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and World Cup.

Hockey-Nilgiris has spent over a decade petitioning both state and central authorities for a synthetic facility. In 2022, a formal representation was submitted requesting steps to secure land and construct the turf, but tangible progress remains delayed.

Krishnan urged the administration to prioritise the project, sanction necessary funds, and incorporate it into state sports excellence initiatives. Former India captain V.J. Philips and several national coaches have also previously supported establishing synthetic infrastructure in the Nilgiris to leverage its climate and high-altitude advantages for grooming future prospects.