Hockey, as fast-paced as it is, is always a treat to watch. The passes, attacks and defences executed with the hockey stick pump audiences with such adrenaline as can be claimed only by a few other sports. This BOSM is set to deliver yet another stunning hockey competition and our very own team is all geared up for the show. Having won their first outstation medal last year at IIT Roorkee, where they secured a bronze medal, their spirits are definitely high this year.

The BITS Pilani contingent is headed by Pranav Sood who looks quite well-equipped for this BOSM. The hockey team can boast of being one of the largest of all sports in BITS, consisting of around forty regular players out of which a team of fourteen has been selected.  

The fact that the new hockey field was under construction and will only be ready for this BOSM had marred the team’s preparations and the team was forced to practice in the SR Bhawan ground and the Shishu Vihar ground. Still, the team has been practicing hard to ensure that they seal the tournament with a gold medal this year. Their coach, Mr. Wasim Akram, has been instrumental in refining the team’s skills. Hockey is an injury-prone sport and the team has adapted to it quite well. Proper warm-ups are ensured to avoid cramps and maintain their health so that their performance is not compromised.

The captain of the BITS hockey team, Pranav Sood, has ample experience playing roller-skate hockey since 2004. He had captained the Haryana team in the same and won the gold medal at the national level. He plays at the centre attacking half position and is highly dedicated and a motivational player. Pranav said, ‘I need hockey in the mornings and evenings to be able to study in the night.’ The team moves forward on the mantra of punctuality and discipline. Praveen Kumar is the vice-captain of the team playing at the right half position.

Hockey enjoys a huge fan following in India but the inclination of younger generations towards the sport is declining. This is reflected in the fact that only two players participated from the first year for trials and only one got selected for the team.  However, it is expected that after BOSM, several more students would be enthusiastic to join the sport, more so because of the sport being played on campus for the first time. The fact that almost every player on the current team has started playing hockey from scratch upon coming to Pilani supports the above assumption.

Academics is one area which is bound to suffer due to intensive sports activities, but the problem becomes more serious because there are no holidays in BOSM. The team’s love for hockey, however, is the only force that keeps these players going despite all types of obstacles.

We hope that the BITS team fares well and emerges as champions this year, providing scope for greater enthusiasm to arise in the sport amongst BITSians.