Double gain after pain for hockey lad Moses Pullanthara

Moses Pullanthara

An injury at a young age can be very demoralising for any sportsperson, but if that very injury throws up a double delight in the near future, the pain could never have been sweeter. Last year, Bombay Republicans midfielder Moses Pullanthara, 22, was at the lowest point in his career when a groin injury put him out of contention for a spot in the Mumbai team for the Hockey India Senior Nationals 'A' Division tournament in Lucknow. However, today, he has not just secured a spot for himself at the same tournament next year, but could well have a choice of teams to represent as well. And none of this was pre-planned.

"My coach at Republicans, Conroy [Remedios] one day just casually asked me if I wanted to play for Canara Bank in the Bangalore League. I agreed, and seeing my good performance there, Shanmugham sir [Canara Bank coach] retained me for the Hockey India Senior Nationals 'B' Division tournament in Manipur recently. As fate would have it, we reached the final, and though we lost to Punjab National Bank, both finalists have qualified for next year's Hockey India Senior Nationals 'A' Division tournament," Moses, who returned from Imphal on Monday, told mid-day.

Moses however clarified that his first choice remained Mumbai. "I will go for the Mumbai team trials because I want to play for my city. But I also have a loyalty to Canara Bank so, in a way, I'm in a dilemma. But it's also very satisfying to know that I could possibly have a choice of teams to play for in the country's premier domestic competition next year. "Come to think of it, that groin injury actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise," added the TY BCom student from MMK College, Bandra.

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