Ambassador XI clinch Dhyan chand cup

Team Coorg and UTSC Kerala joined hands in a unique way to felicitate Oman's hockey veteran and ace Saiyed Ali Sibtain Naqvi, who was recently awarded the Journalist Association of India Award 2012 in New Delhi. It was a nice gesture by the hockey lovers of Oman to recognise Naqvi's contribution to the game of hockey in India and Oman and adding colour to the function was the organisation of the exhibition match between Ambassador's XI and Naqvi XI for the Dhyan Chand Cup. The event which was held under the patronage of Indian Ambassador J.S. Mukul turned out to be a grand success at the OFA ground in Qurum. Naqvi, who was also conferred with the Indo-Oman Friendship Award in 2010 and the Ministry of Sports Affair's Lifetime Achievement Award 2011, was elated by the felicitation by Team Coorg (Kutappa and his team) and UTSC Kerala. This is in addition to the documentary film Evergreen Ace made in 2007. S.A.S. Naqvi, who was close to Dada Dhyan Chand and hockey stalwarts like K.D. Singh Babu and Kishan Lal, thanked the organisers for the felicitation and vowed more contributions for the game. The evening was graced by the presence of Indian Ambassador J.S. Mukul and Hammad Al Ghafri, adviser at Ministry of Civil Services, head of Chancery at Indian Embassay A. P. S. Chauhan, Dawood Ahmed Al Raisi, OHA chairman, Dr Ram Sethu, the noted orthopaedic surgeon who himself was a great hockey player of national standard and had represented University of Madras, Mohammed Shambeh Al Raisi, former national player and member of development committee FIH/AHF and the present national coach of Oman Sybil Hasan along with some current crop of players. Chief Guest J. S. Mukul was very impressed to see the huge response for the exhibition hockey match. Joining the dignitaries were Dr K. P. Raman of Al Hayat Clinic, who had arranged a free medical camp at the venue. The match was equally interesting with both the teams locked 1-1 at full time. In the resultant tie-break, Ambassador XI won 3-1. Former Oman national coach K.K. Poonacha stood out as an outstanding player. After the match, S. A. S. Naqvi was presented with a memento by the Indian ambassador to mark his felicitation. Also present was the stalwart of golden era of Indian hockey Syed Sultan Ahmed. The Ambassador XI was presented the winner trophy by Padmani Chengappa former hockey star of Mysore University to Harshit Naniah, captain of Ambassador XI. Major Carriapa addressed the gathering to express gratitude to the Indian ambassador, Dr Hammad Al Ghafri as well as Dawood Ahmed Al Raisi for their kind presence. He also thanked all the volunteers and well wishers like Shakunthala Boppanna, Soumya Subiah, Prashanti Naniah and Preet Kushallppa. Times of Oman