Unflappable Sunil Puts Shivamogga on Hockey Map

Shivamogga is renowned for its lush greenery, waterfalls, rich cultural heritage and, yes, Ninasam, the drama school. Now, the twenty-year-old wiry, swarthy and uncompromising defender Sunil PB is set to put Shivamogga on the international hockey map when he dons the India jersey in the four-nation junior tournament to be held in Berlin next month.

- RAMACHANDRA V GUNARI

Dribbling past poverty and hard luck, Sunil, the younger of the two sons of daily-wage labourers in Talluru in Sorab taluk, has come a long way.

"My father, Palakshappa, is aged and not going for work these days. Mother, Rathnamma, and elder brother, Sandeep, work either as daily agriculture labourers or as masons. No one in our village thought I would play for India one day," said a beaming Sunil when TNIE reached out to him.

Sunil's life-changing moment came nearly eleven years ago when talent-spotter Sundaresh set his eyes on the bright schoolboy. He was on a scouting trip to Sunil's school. After putting Sunil through some routine tests, Sundaresh was impressed by the youngster's gritty attitude.

Sunil recalls the turning point. He told TNIE: "After taking some tests, Sundaresh sir asked me 'Are you interested in playing hockey?' I said yes."