Conrad Dias
Ranchi, March 8: Long before MS Dhoni, the former captain cool of Indian Cricket, Jharkhand had another champion way back in 1980 who brought glory to India in the form of gold in the 1980 Moscow Olympics.
Sylvanus Dung Dung was part of the victorious Indian Hockey team that won gold in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Since then, Indian hockey has been waiting to taste success in the mega event. He was awarded the Dhyanchand Award in 2016 after waiting for 36 years.
Currently residing in his residence at Harmu, the 74- year -old former men’s hockey player had a one on one conversation with Lagatar24.com and shared his experiences.
He stated that the current national team has to up their game in order to taste success in World Cups and Olympics.
“The men’s team ended up in third place during the recently concluded Olympics. I felt that their game practice needed to improve a lot in order to finish at the top two positions,” he said while sipping his afternoon beverage.
He also gave his suggestions on what should be done in order to make Indian Hockey a successful team around the world.
“In order to win gold for the country players must take expertise from former Olympians and should also focus on their rivals and their weaknesses. It is a big thing to win Olympic gold for your country and players should work hard to achieve it,” Dung Dung explained.
Since the youth is inclined more towards cricket, he also stated that Hockey in India needs support and funding.
“In order to nurture our players it is very important that we support them financially as well. We must provide them with every facility as it is provided in other countries. Helping a player financially will also help in the team’s development and it will improve the status of hockey in India as a whole,” he explained.
Jharkhand is known for producing world-class hockey players and Sylvanus Dung Dung has always been a key person in helping the budding hockey players from Jharkhand.
“A few years back when I was a bit fit I used to train many players in Ranchi in the Hockey Academy in Bariatu which included both boys and girls. Many of my students have gone on to represent the State team and few have also made it to the National side,” he added.
Simdega, the native place of Dung Dung, is also known as ‘Cradle of Hockey’ in the state as it has produced world-class Olympians such as Sylvanus Dung Dung, Michael Kindo and Salima Tete.
“I feel proud when I see players such as Salima Tete who belongs to Simdega, my home town, be a part of the National Team that took part in the recently held Olympics. I would like to see more players from Jharkhand in the National hockey team,” he concluded.
Prior to the pandemic, he used to train and guide the Jharkhand Women’s Hockey Team in the Academy in Bariatu but post the lockdown he has just been assigned official works from Hockey Jharkhand.
Dung Dung was also a part of the Bihar regiment of the Indian Army in 1965 and was at the post of a Captain at the time of his retirement.