Voices from the past

KN Sharma,who has been associated with hockey for over 30 years as assistant national coach of the national and junior teams for both men and women, recounts the changes that he has witnessed at Shivaji Stadium.

“Initially, the stadium was a grassy patch. Instead of proper seating they had wooden planks in the stands. But after it was renovated 25 years ago for the National Games, it became a wonder.” The Stadium currently seats almost 5000 spectators.

“Apart from the fact that the stadium has not been renovated since ’82, the construction of a hotel has spoilt the turf really badly. It is high time that the stadium changed.”

Sandeep Narayan

Sriram Singh Middle distance great

Close to the heart

Of all the stadiums in the Capital, the National Stadium holds a special place in the hearts of many stalwarts. It was the favourite training ground for athletics legend Milkha Singh and middle-distance great Sriram Singh. “I did most of my training at the National Stadium,” recalls Sriram. According to Sriram, who still holds the national record in the 800m, athletics gradually faded away as hockey became the major attraction after the ’82 Asian Games.

Till 1979, Sriram trained on a cinder track at the stadium. He remembers it now, how he had, in 1976, run on an artificial surface. “I ran on tartan track during the Montreal Olympics. Had I trained earlier, I would have been among the medallists.” Then he was back on cinder, “getting back to basics” again. The artificial surface came for the ’82 Games.

“Yet it was different, somewhat relaxed, as we often sat around and chatted after practice. The area renewed friendships, built new ones. Whatever they do, they should keep the ambience.”

Khajan Singh Asian Games silver medallist swimmer

A different feeling

What ace swimmer Khajan Singh clearly remembers is the “different feeling” that he had “as it was an indoor pool, a new experience to all of us, as we walked in.

“The bigger surprise was the temperature control, of being able to swim through the year. We had none for common use, or for competitive swimming those days. It was a wonder.

“Fine, the technology has changed, the standards are now different, hopefully it will be a great deal better than it is, but I will keep my memories of where I practised most,” he said.

The experience at the stadium came in handy for him later, when he trained under famous Aussie coach Eric Arnold, and then at the 1986 Asian Games, where he picked up silver, India’s only medal from the pool at that level to date.