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.

In this episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we speak with the Indian Men's Hockey Team goalkeeper Krishan B Pathak. The player who has been part of the national setup since his junior days talked about his hockey journey in which he has faced a lot of adversities.

Pathak highlighted the importance of supportive teammates in his hockey journey and credits the team's camaraderie their recent success and believes this will be the team's plus point as they prepare for the prestigious FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar-Rourkela 2023 in January. Krishan also spoke about his experience playing alongside the very experienced PR Sreejesh which in turn helped him improve his game drastically.

Tune into this episode of Hockey Te Charcha to find out more about Krishan B Pathak.

In this episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we speak with Indian Men’s Hockey Team midfielder Hardik Singh, who is looking forward to being part of his second World Cup during the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar-Rourkela 2023 in January.  

Hardik, who is one of the mainstays in the Indian Men’s Hockey Team, comes from a family of hockey players and has loved the sport from the time he was a young boy. 

An Arjuna Awardee in 2021, Hardik explained that the team’s preparation are in full swing ahead of the all-important FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup Bhubaneswar-Rourkela 2023.  

Understandably, Hardik is keen to make an impact and help the Indian Men’s Hockey Team produce a momentous performance in January, and cheering him on will be his whole family, who he says are already making travel plans for the marquee event. 

In this episode number 31 of Hockey Te Charcha, we speak with the Indian Men's Hockey Team's rising star and drag-flicker Jugraj Singh. The player, who was part of the memorable Silver Medal winning campaign at the Commonwealth Games 2022 held in Birmingham in which he chipped in with 3 goals. The drag-flicker opened up about his journey from his humble origins to the senior men’s squad and how he had to overcome multiple adversities to establish himself.

Jugraj Singh highlighted the sacrifices of his father in his hockey journey and credited him for his success on the hockey field. Jugraj also spoke about his experience with the Indian team and how he had to adapt to the highly professional setup at Hockey India, which in turn helped him improve his game drastically.

The Defender shared anecdotes from his journey to the senior Indian Men’s Hockey team and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Tune into this episode 31 of Hockey Te Charcha to find out more about Jugraj Singh.

In the 30th episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we speak to Indian Women’s Team player Salima Tete, who was part of the team that won the Bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Salima, who hails from Jharkhand, touched upon how her journey over the years and how the senior players have been a massive source of encouragement and motivation.

Captain of the Indian Team that won the Silver medal at the 3rd Youth Olympic Games 2018 in Buenos Aires, Salima explained that such big achievements in her career so far have helped raise the profile of her native place, which has also resulted in better training facilities being availalbe for the younger players of the area.

Salima also opened up about her relationship with the senior players in the Indian team, who have been a source of strength. The 20-year-old also spoke about how the team was determined to ensure they won a medal at Birmingham and more.

In this new episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we spoke to Suman Bala, member of the 2002 Commonwealth Games’ Gold winning Indian Women’s Team about the journey from two decades ago.

Suman, who was playing her second Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002, scored 3 goals for India as they surprised one and all with a memorable campaign. The Indian team started off slowly before picking up the pace, with the former international believing the win against South Africa as the turning point for the team’s run-in.

Suman was a crucial part of the Indian team set-up then and hopes the Savita-led Women’s Team can repeat the feats of 2002.

The former international not only had high praise for the current set of players but also noted that the players had been empowered more by Hockey India in recent years. She said that seeing the current Indian Women’s Team in such a happy place is great.

Suman, who now lives in Vancouver in Canada, wished the Indian Men’s and Women’s Team well for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, rueing the fact that she would not be able to watch them in person.

In the recent episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we spoke to the talented Indian Women’s Hockey Star Gurjit Kaur.

A prolific drag-flicker, Gurjit made her senior debut in 2014 and has been an integral part of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team in the recent year. Gurjit’s ambitions have helped India achieve significant triumphs in recent years, most notably at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. She scored the game-winning penalty corner goal in India's historic 1-0 triumph over Australia, advancing the Indian Women's Hockey team to their first-ever Semi-Final in the Summer Games.

Gurjit scored two goals in the Bronze Medal match against Great Britain, in addition to one in the Semi-Final against Argentina. Her outstanding performance earned her the FIH Women's Player of the Year award for 2020-2021.

She also played a key role in India’s third-place finish in the just-concluded FIH Hockey Women’s Pro League games 2021/22.

Gurjit in a candid conversation spoke about her journey. She also spoke about the Indian team’s recent success and shed light on their preparations for the upcoming 2022 FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup.

For episode 27, we spoke to promising young star of Indian Hockey Sanjay. A prolific dragflicker, Sanjay has been part of the National program over the last five years. He was part of the U-18 team that won a historic silver medal at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires back in 2018, he was a regular feature in the junior side that finished on the podium in back-to-back Sultan of Johor Cup. He was part of the team that finished 4th in the Junior World Cup in Bhubaneswar last year.

And in the recently held Hockey 5’s tournament in Lausanne, Switzerland, he was part of the Indian men’s team that emerged victorious.

Sanjay got candid as he fondly spoke of his journey in hockey from the small hamlet of Dabra village in Hisar district, Haryana. He spoke about his days in the Chandigarh Hockey Academy where he met stalwart players like Rupinder Pal Singh, Olympic Bronze medalist. To listen to this youngster's story, do tune in to this latest episode...

In this latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we indulge in an engaging conversation with one of the finest goalkeepers to have represented India in recent times - Savita.

She has been an integral part of the Indian Women's Hockey team for nearly over a decade. Savita made her international debut at the age of 18 when she was selected for the Four Nations Tournament in Durban, South Africa.

Featuring in over 200 matches for India, She has played a key role in helping India win the several accolades including a historic silver medal at the Asian Games in Jakarta, a Gold Medal in the Women's Asian Champions Trophy in 2016, and she also played a significant role in helping the team qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time in 36 years in 2016. She played a critical role in India’s historic fourth place finish at the Tokyo Olympic Games and she is now preparing to lead the team in a successful Pro League campaign in Europe before the Indian team begins their World Cup challenge in Netherlands in July.

Here, she talks about the team's resurgence over the past few years, her favourite moment with the team and also candidly talks about living up to the expectations after a fantastic outing in Tokyo Olympics last year.

A two-time Olympian, Asian Games Gold medallist with 285 International Caps for India, Dr AB Subbaiah has been associated with hockey not only as a player but also a former Coach and Administrator. A true student of the game, in this candid conversation with Hockey Te Charcha, he talks about going back to the basics and learning about the many changes the sport has undergone over the past few decades.

He talks passionately about the work being done to bring back the glory days in his home state Karnataka, where he leads a young bunch of administrators as Secretary General of Hockey Karnataka.

Subbaiah also talks about the Odisha State Government’s role in supporting hockey and he also puts his weight behind the men and the women’s team to achieve greater success in the coming years.

In this latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we caught up with Indian Women's Hockey Chief Coach Janneke Schopman. An Olympic Gold Medalist and World Cup winner for the Netherlands, Janneke talks candidly about her transformation from being a player to a coach.

From telling us all about how her family was a big influence for her to take up the sport to coaching the Indian Women's Team, Janneke engaged in a free-wheeling conversation on the sidelines of the team's preparations for the upcoming FIH Hockey Women's World Cup in Netherlands and Spain.

Tune in to the full episode.

In this episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we speak with Former Indian Men’s Hockey Team Captain Dilip Tirkey. Tirkey holds the distinction of being the most capped Indian hockey player of all time with 412 International appearances over a career spanning 15 years. He is a former Rajya Sabha representative for the state of Odisha, and presently serves as the Chairman of the Odisha Hockey Promotion Council.

In this free-wheeling conversation, Tirkey reminisces about the highs & lows and countless memories of his playing days. He offers his insights into present day International hockey and the developments in modern day hockey from various perspectives.

In what is scheduled to be a crucial period for Indian hockey with an upcoming Hockey World Cup in the state of Odisha in January 2023, Tirkey speaks about the impact that hosting the prestigious event for the second successive time in Odisha will have on the fans and aspiring young players in the region. Tune in to listen to the full episode.

Indian Women’s Hockey team veteran Sushila Chanu appears as a guest on the latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha. In this episode, Sushila sheds light on her memorable experiences from her storied career in International hockey thus far. The 30 year-old halfback from Manipur tells listeners about how and why she began playing hockey as a child, and the pathway that led her into the Indian Junior Women’s National team’s fold.

With her experience of competing and securing the Bronze Medal in the 2013 Women’s Hockey Junior World Cup as the Captain of the team, Sushila shares her invaluable insight and words of advice for the Junior Women’s Hockey team set to compete at the upcoming World Cup in South Africa.

Always considered a popular member in the ranks of the Indian eves, Sushila tells the tale of grit and resilience that helped her recover from a serious injury in the months preceding the 2016 Rio Olympics, and how she revived herself to breathe new life into her career and continue to make a mark in world hockey for her home state of Manipur.

In this episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we speak with marquee Indian Women’s Hockey Team forward Vandana Katariya, who shares her journey towards becoming one of the most celebrated players in Indian and world hockey. Vandana speaks at length about her late father, who has been the strongest pillar of support in her personal and professional life.

She then goes on to talk about the many highs and lows of her career in International hockey, sharing her insights on cherishing the best moments and fighting her way through the difficult times. Vandana remains the only Indian Women’s Hockey player to score a hat-trick at the Olympics, and she shares the story that inspired this iconic performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The conversation concludes with the star forward sharing her plans for the road ahead, and a quick rapid fire round which gives her fans an insight into the personal likes and dislikes of Vandana Katariya. Tune into the episode to find out more.

In this episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we speak with Indian Women's Hockey Team Forwards Navneet Kaur and Neha. The players, who were part of the historic fourth-place finish campaign at the Tokyo Olympics last year, opened up about how they came across the game of hockey and how they started playing the sport.

While Navneet stressed on the importance of her father in her hockey journey, Neha credited her mother for her success on the hockey field. Navneet and Neha also spoke about their experience with the Indian team and shared reasons behind the team's success in the last few years. The two Forwards also expressed about the challenges they have faced in their careers so far.

The two Forwards shared anecdotes from the Tokyo Olympics 2020 as well.

Tune into this episode of Hockey Te Charcha to find out more about Navneet and Neha.

In this episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we speak with the star defender and key drag flicker of the Indian Men’s Hockey team, the one and only Harmanpreet Singh. Known to be a calm and reserved character off the field, Harmanpreet takes listeners along with him through his journey in International hockey in this insightful conversation.

Coming off the back of a monumental year in 2021 which saw him attain collective glory with Team India in the Tokyo Olympics and individual awards like the FIH Men’s Player of the Year, Harmanpreet speaks about the dedication and years of hard work which enabled him to scale these new heights in his career.

Giving listeners a glimpse into his personality off the field, the star defender shares his experience as a newly married man and talks about his favourite holiday destination, his love for music and his favourite Bollywood icon.

Tune into this episode of Hockey Te Charcha to find out more about Harmanpreet Singh.

In the latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we speak with none other than the Indian Men’s Hockey team’s veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. Sreejesh, who is nicknamed the ‘Great Wall of India’ for his heroic performances in goal for the Indian National Team over the last 18 years, opens up about his humble background and why he chose to pursue hockey as a kid at a time when other sports were more popular in his home state of Kerala.

Speaking about his journey from being a youngster who dreamed of representing India at the biggest stage one day to playing an instrumental role in securing India’s Bronze Medal in the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Sreejesh reflects on the many highs and lows in an international career that has spanned nearly two decades. He also speaks candidly about the special relationship that he shares with his father.

On a lighter note, Sreejesh gives his fans and listeners a glimpse into his personal life as he speaks about his likes, dislikes, and his favourite comfort food. The ace Indian goalkeeper even tells us about his casting choice for the actor who should play him if a biopic is ever made on his life and his storied career in International hockey.

Tune into this episode of Hockey Te Charcha to find out more about the man himself: PR Sreejesh.

In this year-end special episode of Hockey Te Charcha, Indian Women's Hockey Captain Rani reflected upon the year 2021 which witnessed their historic 4th place finish in the Tokyo Olympic Games. She has been part of some of India's most significant victories including the team's qualification for the Olympics 2020. She has led the Indian Women's team since 2017 and she speaks fondly of this journey, explaining how she took on the onus of shouldering the duties of a Captain.

In this candid conversation, she also speaks of her initial struggles in the team and fondly remembers the advice she received from late Shri MK Kaushik, the legendary coach and Olympic Gold Medalist under whose wings Rani made it to the National Coaching Camp at a young age of 15.

She also speaks of her humble roots, the struggle of a young girl from a conversative society in Shahbaad taking up hockey as a career and also recalls her father's meeting with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during the Padma Shri awards ceremony which will always be a special moment for her.

To hear more, tune into the episode here.

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

In this latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, midfielder Vivek Sagar Prasad reflected upon the start of his journey. The 21-year-old young gun who was part of India's historic Bronze medal-winning campaign at the Tokyo Olympics, recalled how he had to battle injuries early on in his career.

He also fondly speaks about leading India Colts in his very first international outing with the team in 2017 at the Sultan of Johor Cup tournament in Malaysia, where India finished in the third position. Vivek was named the 'Young Player of the Tournament' for his consistent performances.

In 2018, Vivek received a call-up to India Men's Senior Team, and now, after performing at the highest level against some of the best teams in the world in the past three years, the young hockey star will be leading India's junior team once again at the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's Junior World Cup as they look to defend the title in Bhubaneswar.

Do tune in to hear more.

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

In the latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we catch up with Mandeep Singh, who is one of the most flamboyant strikers in the Indian Men’s Hockey Team. He was part of team for India’s historic Bronze medal winning feat at the Tokyo Olympics.

He came into the national set up in 2013 as a very young player. His performances in the Hockey India League fast-tracked his debut in the Senior India side, and ever since, he has been a part of India’s many success stories. In a very candid conversation, Mandeep gets nostalgic about the FIH Men's Junior World Cup in 2016 which India won by beating Belgium in the Final. With, the much-awaited FIH Odisha Hockey Men's Junior World Cup being held in Bhubaneswar starting 24 November, Mandeep not only wished the India Colts side the best but also gave away some valuable tips that can help in India's campaign.

Tune in to hear more.

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

In the latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we are joined by current hockey star Simranjeet Singh, who was part of the winning the bronze medal team at the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Simranjeet’s illustrious national career kicked off as a junior player at the 2016 FIH Men’s Junior World Cup, where he helped the team clinch the Championship title. He made his senior debut in 2018 and has since then represented India in various noteworthy tournaments including India’s silver-medal winning campaign at the 2018 Men’s Hockey Champions Trophy and the 2018 Men’s Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar. Simranjeet’s sensational goals have made him an instant hit among the Indian fans.

In an entertaining and insightful chat, Simranjeet speaks candidly about his journey and the various highs and lows of his career. He takes us behind the scenes of 2018 World Cup, giving a peak into the team’s morale and approach to the home tournament. He also talks about national camps and how fundamental they are to forging a strong mentality and unbreakable team bonds. Finally, he takes us along his eventful Tokyo journey, right from the initial disappointment of missing out on the 16-member squad to wearing the bronze medal with pride. Tune in to hear more...
You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

In the thirteenth episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we spoke with the charismatic former Indian hockey player MM Somaya. Somaya was a part of India’s last Olympic Gold medal winning side at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and went on to play in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics as well, before Captaining the Indian Men’s Hockey Team in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

In this episode, Somaya takes us on a journey of Indian hockey in the 1980s, sharing some of his experiences of playing alongside legendary players such as Mohammed Shahid, Zafar Iqbal, Vasudevan Baskaran and Mervyn Fernandis. On a lighter note, Somaya regales us with tales of camaraderie between the team, as certain players in the team went on to form a core of the Indian side which played in three Olympic Games together between 1980 and 1988.

The former Indian Men’s Team Captain goes on to analyse the structure laid down by Hockey India, under which the current Indian hockey teams have shown signs of flourishing. Somaya is all praises for the developments in modern grassroots training in India, offering invaluable insights from his wealth of experience in Indian and International hockey. He also shares his congratulations with the current Indian Men’s and Women’s teams for their remarkable performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Tune in to the episode to find out more.

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

In the twelfth episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we took a trip down memory lane with the legendary Gurbux Singh. Gurbux had an illustrious career in hockey, winning multiple medals and honours for his country, the foremost of which is the Olympic Gold medal in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

Over the course of this conversation, Gurbux Singh relives some glorious memories from his playing career, offering some detailed insights into some of Indian hockey’s most iconic accomplishments, as well as anecdotes about the legendary Major Dhyan Chand. Gurbux Singh keenly follows present day International hockey, and shares his congratulations, as well as words of advice for the current Indian Men’s and Women’s hockey team.

Tune in to this episode to hear from the decorated veteran himself, as he tells tales about the glorious past of Indian hockey and his own journey in the game, beginning from his childhood to eventually becoming the captain of the Indian hockey team.

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

In the latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we interacted with Indian Men’s Hockey Team Chief Coach Graham Reid.

Graham Reid is no stranger to success on the Olympic stage, having won the Silver medal as a player for Australia in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. However, clinching an Olympic Bronze medal as the Chief Coach of the Indian Men’s Team after a 41-year long wait for India ranks amongst his most impressive achievements. Reid spoke at length about the challenges and the process that led to this remarkable feat in an insightful conversation on Hockey Te Charcha; a podcast series initiated by Hockey India.

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

In the tenth episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we spoke at length with none other than Men’s Team Captain Manpreet Singh. Manpreet has been a permanent fixture in the Indian National Team since making his debut in 2011. He has recorded an impressive total of 269 caps for India thus far, and has no intentions of slowing down anytime soon.

In this episode, Manpreet talks about his humble beginning in hockey, and the journey that led to his debut for Team India. Having been a vital member of the Indian squad for the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, the upcoming Tokyo Olympics will be the first time Manpreet leads the team as Captain on the biggest stage in hockey. He also goes on to share his thoughts on being named a flag bearer for the Indian contingent in the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics.

Do not miss out on this episode as the Team India Captain tells us tales of the pranks and shenanigans that go on in the team’s dressing room, often led by the fun-loving Manpreet himself.

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

In the latest episode on Hockey Te Charcha, we interacted with former Indian Women’s Team Chief Coach Neil Hawgood. Before he began his coaching career, Neil was a player and a prolific goal scorer for the Australian Men’s Team. He represented Australia in the 1988 Olympics.

In this episode, Neil reflects on his time at the helm of the Indian Women’s Hockey Team and speaks about the journey the players have been on leading up to the Tokyo Olympics. He also shares his thoughts on the current landscape in Men’s and Women’s Hockey and makes his predictions for the Tokyo Olympics.

Tune in to find out more about Neil Hawgood’s thoughts on the process behind creating a successful hockey team as the Indian eves gear up for the summer showdown in Tokyo.

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

In its latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we caught up with former India Centre Forward Shivendra Singh who was not only famous world wide for his incredible goal-scoring abilities but he was also popular for his on-field goal celebrations that enthralled spectators.

Currently working with the Olympic-bound Indian Men's Hockey team in the capacity of Assistant Coach,  Shiva as he is fondly called, got nostalgic about his playing days and shared his experience of taking up Coaching after his International career ended in 2013.

Tune in to know more on Shiva's thoughts about the current Indian squad led by Manpreet Singh and what the team is working on before they leave for Tokyo.

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

In the latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, we caught up with International Umpires Javed Shaikh and Raghuprasad RV who have been appointed by the FIH to officiate at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The two seasoned umpires spoke in detail about several key aspects involved in their job including how they prepare ahead of a match, why fitness is a top priority for FIH when they assess umpires and just how rigorous officiating at the Olympic Games can be. Listen in to know more...

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

Few people have the international coaching pedigree and an understanding of what it takes to succeed at a mega event such as the Olympic Games like Roelant Oltmans. In an insightful conversation with Hockey Te Charcha, the veteran hockey Coach who is currently based out of the Netherlands delved on many factors that would prove crucial in a team's success in Tokyo.

From underlining the importance of mental toughness to predicting the teams that might end up on the podium, Oltmans was as articulate as ever. He minced no words in expressing his thoughts about Team India's recent exploits and spoke in-detail as to why he believes India are a strong contender for a medal in Tokyo.

Listen to what he has to say in this freewheeling conversation of Hockey Te Charcha...

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

With less than 50 days to go for the Tokyo Olympic Games, the excitement is palpable. Having featured some of the stalwarts of the game previously, Hockey India in this new episode of Hockey Te Charcha spoke with Olympian and former India Captain Tushar Khandker.

While Tushar recalled his formative days in the sport, he spoke a great deal about the current Indian Men's Hockey Team with whom he had closely worked between 2014 to 2016 as their Assistant Coach ahead of the Rio Olympic Games. Listen to what he has to say about the team's prospects at Tokyo and more

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.

After candid conversations with hockey heroes Harbinder Singh, V Baskaran and former women’s goalkeeping Champ Helen Mary, Hockey Te Charcha in its fourth episode features one of India’s most successful dragflickers VR Raghunath. With over 200 international caps for India, this two-time Olympian and former India defender was part of some of the most remarkable victories in Indian hockey including the Asian Games Gold in 2014, Asia Cup Gold in 2007 and Silver in 2013, Silver in 2014 Commonwealth Games and many more.

Listen to Raghunath speak about the resurgence of Indian hockey, the team’s prospects at Tokyo Olympics and more.

You can follow us and leave us your feedback on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @hockeyindia. Our entire podcast is also available on hockeyindia.org.