MARGAO
India’s century-long journey in hockey — from colonial roots to global dominance — was celebrated in grand style as the nation marked 100 years of glorious Indian hockey. As part of the nationwide festivities, Goan hockey players proudly joined in the Guinness World Record attempt that saw over 16,000 players participate in 3,000 matches across 600 districts throughout the country.
The historic event honoured India’s unmatched hockey legacy — eight Olympic gold medals and 13 podium finishes, making the nation the most successful in Olympic hockey history. The centenary celebrations paid tribute to the sport’s rich past while inspiring a new generation to carry forward the legacy that has long been the heartbeat of India.
Goans enthusiastically joined the record-breaking celebrations by conducting seven matches at three venues in North and South Goa.
At Peddem, Mapusa, matches were played between St. Michael Higher Secondary School and Shree Ganesh Higher Secondary School (boys), followed by a girls’ match between St. Xavier’s Higher Secondary School and RCC Peddem. The final encounter featured Janata High School, organized in collaboration with Khelo India. The matches were supervised by Aviraj Madgaonkar, Gaurav Singh, Geeta Rathod, and Pranjali Haldankar.
In Gudi, Paroda — known as the hub of hockey in South Goa — matches featured Damodar English Higher Secondary School versus Damodar High School (boys) and Damodar English Higher Secondary School versus St. Jude High School (girls). The games were monitored by Pravin Prabhudessai, Amit Dessai, and Inacio Fernandes, under the supervision of Beny Viegas. The event concluded with the recitation of Vande Mataram, celebrating 150 years of patriotic pride.
Goans Hockey, in collaboration with the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, also launched a grassroots hockey promotion drive. Hockey kits were distributed to Rosary High School, Navelim, in the presence of Fr Gabriel Coutinho (Parish Priest of Rosary Church, Navelim), Aurora D’Souza, and Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar.
The initiative was spearheaded by Secretary Farrel Furtado e Gracias, President Abhay Bhamaikar, and Nelly Rodriguez, with Inacio Fernandes set to conduct a 21-day grassroots training camp.
A special video presentation by Hockey India, showcasing the nation’s hockey journey from 1925 to 2025, inspired young players with stories of resilience and pride.
Former India coach and Dronacharya Awardee Clarence Lobo said, “As we mark a century of Indian hockey, we honour legends from Dhyan Chand to Dhanraj Pillay to Harmanpreet Singh. Hockey has taught us discipline and unity — let us celebrate the past, cherish the present, and build future champions.”
Padma Shree Selma D’Silva, former India women’s team player, added, “It’s an honour to be part of this milestone. Hockey taught me invaluable lessons in life. I hope more people take up sports and discover how transformative it can be.”
Former India goalkeeper and FIH-certified coach Edgar Mascarenhas shared, “This centenary isn’t just about remembering our glorious past — it’s about inspiring the next generation. Hockey has been India’s pride, and our mission is to make it the nation’s passion once again.”
Anoshka D’Souza, Technical Official for Hockey India, noted, “Hockey has united the entire nation, bringing glory and honour to India through the power of teamwork.”
From New Delhi, where he was officiating at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Senior Hockey Tournament, Riyaz Kambli, hockey umpire and player, remarked, “The centenary celebrations have generated tremendous excitement nationwide. I am especially proud of Goa’s contribution, which reflects a deep commitment to nurturing the sport’s future.”
Speaking at the event in Navelim, Goans Hockey President Abhay Bhamaikar reaffirmed the association’s dedication to developing future hockey stars in the state.
“Hockey has always been integral to India’s national pride. Goa is proud to play its part in this centenary celebration and is committed to expanding the game’s reach to every corner of the state,” he said.
