US Olympic Field Hockey Team Hopefuls Begin Training In Atlanta
More than 65 youth, ranging in ages from 8 thru 21 years, participated in the first US Olympic Field Hockey clinic held in the Atlanta metropolitan area in December. The Los Angeles based coach of the US Hockey Federation, Shiv Jagday, supervised the camp.
Coach Jagday's objective is to develop the youth with an early interest in the game, so that he can maintain a continual pipeline of players for future US Olympic teams.
The camp was held at the indoor Gwinnett Sports Center in Suwanee, and the outdoor playing fields of the Sikh Educational Welfare Association in Roswell. Assisting coach Jagday, were former Indian world cup field hockey champion Lata Chinnan, and US National Hockey coach Alva Serrette. Chinnan and Serrette are residents of the Atlanta metro area.
Field hockey is very popular in European and Asian countries, and is one of the most popular Olympic team sports, after soccer. Speaking on the occasion, Coach Jagday said he would like to see the game gain popularity at the grass roots level, so that the players for national teams can be harvested indigenously. By seeding the interest of the community with youth whose parents originate from countries who play field hockey, Coach Jagday believes he can get a fast start at building the popularity of the game nationwide, and develop high caliber players faster.
Amarjit Duggal of Alpharetta organized the clinic. For more information about ongoing clinics, contact Duggal at (770) 330-8907. Opportunities for corporate sponsorships of future camps and leagues are also available, according to Duggal.
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
