We are the New Hockey Hegemons of India

In what was said to be the first in 20-years, Jamia’s hockey team made history on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2011 by beating the Guru Nanak Dev University hockey team from Amritsar, 2-nil, in the final match for the All India Inter Varsity Hockey Tournament Championship 2011-12, held at Jamia.

The two goals for Jamia were scored by Manish Rana and Nitin Sharma.

Although the opposing team played well and gave it their all, it failed to score even a single goal over Jamia. Moreover, for Jamia it came as no surprise to win the final match because Jamia’s performance had been outstanding throughout the tournament. Jamia had won all its matches and the final outcome of the tournament was a foregone conclusion.

According to a Jamia press release, Jamia had scored a total of 29 goals in five matches, and allowed only one goal to the opposing team in the entire tournament.

On being asked what he thought of his team’s performance, Mohammed Moonis, the coach for Jamia’s hockey team said: The team played really well overall in the tournament, and even though GNDU was a strong team, the match was “one-sided” in our favor as you were a witness to it today.

Speaking to Danesh Mann, the captain for the Jamia hockey team, on what he had to say about his team’s victory, he said: Sixteen of the best varsity teams in India play in this tournament, so naturally the competition was really tough. All our players had to struggle a lot. But we had a good coach, and I would also say that we were a little lucky. And we are thankful to God for this victory today.

When posed with the same question, Naveen Kumar, a player on the Jamia team, replied with a cool and confident voice: We won because we were the best.

Addressing the gathering after the match, Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung congratulated the winning team and consoled the losing team by saying that in every match one team had to lose for the other team to win.

Furthermore, in a surprise announcement, Mr. Jung said that besides whatever the players will get as the winning team, every player will also receive a reward of 5,000 rupees from the university.

In addition, citing Jamia’s past achievements, Mr. Jung informed the people gathered that, Jamia Millia Islamia has had a glorious history in the field of hockey. India’s national hockey team currently has two players from Jamia. Also, Jamia has contributed four captains to the national hockey team in the past and there are three Arjuna awardee’s who have studied at Jamia.

“This is no mean achievement for any university and today Jamia Millia islamia is proud of its win and congratulates Jamia’s hockey team for its tremendous success,” read a Jamia press release.

Scenes From the Event:

1. Pictures

*click on an image to enlarge

2. Video

Watch a three minute tribute video on Jamia’s victory on youtube. Link: http://youtu.be/dAxud0GFOCs