Why should they hit others?

31/12/2008

“Why should they hit others, inflict injuries - is it sports?” wondered Harjeet Kaur recently, mother of three grown up children.

She was referring to her son, Ronnie Jagday, who played for Canada.

“Ronnie never let me know the injuries he suffered from. He never complained to me. But I know how much the little boy had to take on his body. He did not complain to me since I would object to him playing the game. My request to all those who play hockey is simple - play, play to win, but don’t play acrimoniously. Don’t intentionally hit others, don’t make other players bleed.”

Vancouver based Harjeet was recently in Ludhiana on a family trip.

She is the wife of renowned coach Shiv Jagday, who coached the United States men’s hockey team for seven years. He has also coached the Canadian team.

Harjeet expressed these views during a lighter moment at a dinner sitting.

“I want my husband to spread the message of goodwill among the players so that they play in the spirit of the game, not to hit other players,” she said emphatically.

We can easily understand a mother’s feeling. We in the Hockey Citizen Group firmly believe in fair play – fair play at any cost. As we aim to generate a hockey culture in the country, we definitely mean to encourage an attitude of playing for fun, and not winning at any cost, including wanton hitting.

Boys and girls who participate in the One Thousand Hockey Legs programme will be instructed accordingly towards this end.