M.M. Somaya: “My Most Memorable Olympics? The 1980 Final Against Spain.”

Somaya had an illustrious career, playing in three Olympics and winning Gold in the Moscow Games.

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In field hockey, the half-back–often referred to simply as a “half”–is positioned between the full-backs and the forwards. Half-backs are versatile players contributing significantly to their teams’ defensive solidity and offensive fluidity. They act as the backbone of the team’s midfield, ensuring that both ends of the field are effectively managed.

Somaya reflects on how growing up in Bombay provided invaluable exposure and a larger platform for showcasing his talents. He says, “In Bombay, I grew up watching Indian hockey players of the 60’s and 70’s play at the Bombay Gold Cup. Ajitpal Singh and Balbir Singh (Railways) were idols while growing up. A sprinkling of Kodava hockey players like M. P. Ganesh and a few others inspired me since they hailed from my home district. Stories of Dhyan Chand, Balbir Singh Sr., and Leslie Claudius from earlier Olympic Games occupied my mind space for a long. In my formative years at St. Mary’s Mazagaon and St Xavier’s College Mumbai, the seeds of a sports career were sown. Being captain of the Bombay team that won the Junior National Hockey Championship in 1976 set me on my path to pursue hockey as a career.”

M. Somaya’s selection for the 1980 Moscow Olympic team was a significant milestone, and his debut in international hockey culminated in a satisfying victory for India, even in a weakened field. The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was another highlight, featuring one of the best Indian teams of the ‘synthetic turf’ era. However, they narrowly missed the semi-finals due to a goal difference against Germany. Somaya says captaining the team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics was a distinguished honour.

After finishing last at the 1986 World Cup in London, the team faced low morale. However, victories in a Nairobi tournament and a tied Indo-Pak series helped boost spirits. Despite recovering from an initial loss to the USSR and holding a promising position at halftime in a crucial match against Great Britain, defensive errors led to a defeat. India finished sixth, which, though disappointing, was an improvement from their 12th-place finish at the London World Cup.

M. Somaya elaborated on the profound significance of hockey in Coorg’s culture, explaining that the sport is integral to the life of all Kodavas. “Most Kodavas have played hockey at some level and follow the sport with great interest. Every success story involving a community member is celebrated with immense pride. It’s no wonder that our small community has produced numerous Olympians and international players,” he remarked.

Somaya highlighted that the Kodava community, numbering less than 200,000 people and comprising 600-650 clans, is tightly knit, with members of each clan related by birth. Among the many tournaments held in Coorg, the Kodava Family Festival stands out, recently completing its 24th year. This year, the festival attracted 360 participating clans and was certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest field hockey tournament.

Somaya expressed immense pride in Coorg, noting that it is likely the only district in India where hockey has retained its importance despite cricket’s growing influence.

He highlighted recent developments, including establishing three AstroTurf surfaces and government-run sports hostels for girls in Madikeri and sub-junior boys in Ponampet, as promising signs for the sport’s future in Coorg—notably, many talents from the region funnel into sports hostels in Bangalore. Somaya advocates appointing coaches adept in contemporary methods across these facilities, emphasizing the importance of physical conditioning and early exposure to high-level competition. He cites C. B. Poovanna, a promising midfielder from Coorg, as an example of the district’s burgeoning talent pool, with several others on the cusp of national team selection.

In a long conversation with TSC’s Ravi Mandapaka, Somaya reminisced about his days in prestigious tournaments like the Bombay Gold Cup, Nehru Memorial, and Aga Khan tournaments. Joining Mahindra & Mahindra during college was a breakthrough, allowing him to refine his skills under Michael Saldanha’s guidance. During his 9-year stint at M&M, they dominated the Bombay League, with notable performances in the Bombay Gold Cup, Aga Khan, and Nehru Memorial tournaments. Playing alongside international stars like Marcellus Gomes and Joaquim Carvalho was enriching. Despite the loss, facing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the 1982 Aga Khan semi-final provided a sense of satisfaction for the quality of tactical hockey displayed.

Representing Bombay for a decade in the senior National Championships was a highlight, including captaining the team to the finals in the 1983 Meerut Nationals. In 1987, he transitioned to Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), where he played a crucial role in establishing a formidable hockey team.

Somaya, a right half-back throughout his career, recalls the evolution of hockey formations. He notes Balkrishen Singh’s introduction of the 4-4-2 formation for the national team in the 1984 Olympics, departing from the traditional 5-3-2 system. At the time, the 5-3-2 setup was deemed the hallmark of Asian attacking hockey, while other formations were viewed unfavorably. However, contemporary hockey embraces flexibility, with teams adapting formations based on gameplay. Somaya highlights the versatility of modern players, capable of occupying multiple positions, enabling fluidity in formations to address varying game situations.

The sport has changed a lot while transitioning from grass to turf. Somaya reflected on significant rule changes in hockey, notably the abolition of the offside rule, the evolution of the drag flick, and the introduction of rolling substitutions. He emphasizes that these changes, along with the self-start rule, have transformed the pace of modern hockey. While the drag flick has its merits and drawbacks depending on one’s position in penalty corner situations, Somaya suggests replacing penalty corners with a format akin to penalty shoot-outs to enhance spectator interest and player safety. Regarding the abolition of the offside rule, Somaya observes that it has led to more crowded defences and reliance on long balls into the circle, diminishing the appeal of intricate build-up play. He advocates for a balance between delicate and power skills in the game, urging the FIH Rules Board to revisit specific rules to attract larger audiences in stadiums and on TV.

A two-time Asian Games medallist in Somaya offers insights into the perennial query surrounding India’s inability to clinch the Hockey World Cup since 1975. While acknowledging strides made in the past decade, he attributes India’s enhanced international performance to pivotal factors: adept adaptation to AstroTurf and the guidance of world-renowned coaches. Furthermore, he underscores the crucial role of scientific training methodologies and the burgeoning talent pipeline from Indian hockey academies. Despite these advancements, Somaya stresses the necessity of continuous strides to attain global hockey supremacy, advocating for sustained investments across all tiers of the sport. He praises the efficacy of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model, particularly showcased in Odisha’s collaborative approach involving the state government, private entities, and sports experts, as a blueprint for catalyzing hockey’s ascent.

Given the dichotomy between domestic and elite global hockey standards, central to his vision is providing international exposure to athletes across age cohorts. Furthermore, Somaya underscores the vital necessity of grassroots talent identification, bespoke training regimens tailored to distinct age brackets, and a steadfast commitment to consistent player selection. These measures, he contends, are essential for fortifying India’s competitive mettle on the global stage.