Making statements with their stickplay

Meet Ramesh Patel. A big hero back in New Zealand since he scored the 42nd minute goal against Australia in their 1976 Montreal Games hockey...

Meet Ramesh Patel. A big hero back in New Zealand since he scored the 42nd minute goal against Australia in their 1976 Montreal Games hockey match. The goal sealed the fate for the Aussies. But more importantly, earned Patel inconic status in Kiwiland. So much so that for the past 14 years, Patel has been CEO of the New Zealand Hockey Federation (NZHF).

But unlike the Patel of New Zealand cricket — Deepak — Ramesh isn’t the only Indian in Kiwi hockey. There’s team manager at the Athens Games Arvind Jasmat — from Surat — who tells

The Indian Express ‘‘Ramesh Patel is the best player New Zealand has produced in the last 25 years.’’

Patel’s journey represents quite a story about immigrant Indians in New Zealand who came to the country as plantation farmers from Gujarat in the 1920s. The community plays a huge role today — especially in hockey — and a testimony to the fact is the presence of three Indian-origin players — Bevan Hari, Umesh Parag and Mitesh Patel — in the Athens team. Dharmesh Punna was left out from the probables’ list.

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Jasmat reckons the Indian connection brings a certain flair to the New Zealand team which the Kiwis normally do not possess. ‘The stickwork and brilliance of the wrists are traditionally an Indian trait. It is this art that we possess which adds to the side. We all are very proud of it and are always encouraged to practice it.’’

Jasmat also informs us that there are Indian clubs in almost every major New Zealand city and most have a strong presence in the local competitions. Moreover, as Jasmat tells us, the New Zealand Indian Sports Association — a conglomerate of eight Indian clubs headed by Pravin Lalloo — is a non-voting but recognised member of the NZHF.

Lalloo — with his roots in Navsari — reveals that there is an annual hockey compeition among the eight Indian clubs with a majority being Gujaratis. ‘‘See, the tournaments are also a way for us to connect and interact with our community and foster a strong Indian spirit,’’ Lalloo says. The junior hockey suqads have an even stronger Indian presence and among women, there is Priya Dhikha who has played for the national side.

Do they ever support India in hockey? ‘‘Yes, when India plays other teams,’’ says Jasmat. But when they get on the turf on Saturday, asserts Jasmat, it will be very different. “No extra edge, nothing of that sort,’’ for, he adds ‘‘we all are New Zealanders.’’

JEWELS IN THE CROWN

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BEVAN HARI: Bevan — otherwise a data technician — is fast, aggressive and is a key element of the side’s goal-scoring capability. He has played 123 games for NZ since debuting in 1997.

MITESH PATEL: An IT Engineer from Wellington, Mitesh is an attacking midfielder, having played 98 games for New Zealand so far. He plays IT engineer when not training or playing with the team.

UMESH PARAG: 35-year-old accountant Umesh is New Zealand’s most capped player of all time, with 204 games to his name. His career spans two World Cups and Athens will also be Umesh’s second Olympics after Barcelona.