Mumbai: Former India captain, Viren Rasquinha, has announced his comeback to play in the inaugural edition of World Series Hockey.
The Mumbai lad surprised the world as he suddenly quit the game at the young age of 27 and at the peak of his illustrious career. Possibly realising that the sport wasn’t a viable career option, Viren pursued an MBA from the prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad and is currently the CEO of Olympic Gold Quest. The all-rounder is a fine combination of a highly talented player and a cerebral thinker, who has achieved success and glory in all walks of life.
Three years after retiring from hockey, Rasquinha is set to wield the stick once again as he takes to the pitch in the high-voltage action of the World Series Hockey (WSH) that gets underway from December 17.
“With the participation of the best hockey stars from India and the World, this prestigious League promises a brighter outlook to the sport in India. For the first time, a viable commercial ecosystem is being built around hockey that will benefit the players and all the stakeholders.
Every players well being needs to be the core of any sports administration setup and I am glad to be a part of WSH. ” said Rasquinha.
Karl Da Costa, Deputy General Manager Nimbus Sport said, “We are proud to have Viren Rasquinha within our midst. His presence will provide an added boost to WSH and I am confident he will dazzle with his skill and temperament. He has been a young achiever and will continue to inspire the youngsters who will have an opportunity to play with the best in the world and achieve global recognition”
Rasquinha’s return to competitive sport is a big boost to World Series Hockey, especially coming close on the heels of another former India skipper and popular star, ‘Dhanraj Pillay who announced his comeback at the age of 43.
A tireless midfielder and an excellent team player, Rasquinha was bestowed with the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2006 for his outstanding performance on the hockey field.
A popular star, the Mumbai-born lad, donned India colours at the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2006
Munchengladbach World Cup; but prior to that, had tasted success with the junior squad, winning the gold medal at the Junior World Cup in Hobart.
Known for his confident tackling and calm temperament, Rasquinha gave a stand-out performance during the 2003 Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur and the 2003 Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad where India won gold medals. His precise passing and quick anticipation brought him into the limelight and earned him a trip to the Athens Olympics.
The WSH will be held from December 17, 2011 to January 22, 2012 and will involve 176 leading players -- Indian and international -- who will showcase their talent in 61 matches. It will be a multi-city franchise-based League with players being allocated to the teams based on the internationally accepted and practised ‘draft’ system.
The inaugural edition of the league will comprise eight teams out of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Pune, Bhopal, Punjab, Ranchi and Rourkela.
Hockey players, for the first time, will have a global platform to exhibit their skills for which they will be financially rewarded. The legacy created by the planned upgrading of infrastructure across the country will benefit hockey for generations to come.
Some of the Indian stars who will be seen in action in WSH include Dhanraj Pillay, Rajpal Singh, Sandeep Singh, Adrian D’Souza, Sardara Singh, Prabhjot Singh, Arjun Halappa, Diwakar Ram, Bharat Chetri, Dhananjay Mahadik, Shivendra Singh, Mandeep Antil, S.V. Sunil, Roshan Minz, William Xalxo, Prabodh Tirkey and Yuvraj Walmiki.
The star studded line-up ensures the league will be vibrant and competitive, drawing the global spotlight on India.
