Aldrin’s story epitomizes the quintessence of Indian hockey’s enduring legacy.
From the glory-laden era of Dhyan Chand and K D Singh Babu to the indomitable spirit of modern-day stalwarts, India’s tryst with Olympic hockey has been a testament to resilience, skill, and unwavering dedication. Nestled within this rich quilt is the remarkable journey of Anil Aldrin, a defender whose story epitomizes the quintessence of Indian hockey’s enduring legacy.
Anil Aldrin
In field hockey, the role of a defender is intricate and pivotal and serves as the bulwark against the relentless onslaught of opposing attackers. Defenders are tasked with multifaceted responsibilities to thwart penetrative advances—blocking, tackling, intercepting passes, and orchestrating defensive formations. A defender’s primary objective is to neutralize offensive threats through astute positioning, agile reactions, and tactical acumen. Anil Aldrin epitomized these qualities throughout his illustrious career as a defender. His precision in tackling, astute game reading, and strategic positioning made him a formidable force on the field. Anil’s composure under pressure and ability to orchestrate defensive formations were instrumental in neutralizing offensive threats.
In an exclusive conversation with The Sports Column, Anil Aldrin delved into the pivotal moments and profound influences that have shaped his remarkable career in field hockey. Born in the quaint village of Murukumpuzha in Trivandrum District, Kerala, Anil Aldrin’s journey into field hockey began at an early age. He attended St. Anthony’s and St. Joseph’s in Bengaluru, and it was in these schools that his passion for hockey was ignited, as both institutions boasted a rich hockey tradition.
St. Joseph’s, in particular, has a stellar hockey pedigree, with two of its alums being part of the 1948 Olympic squad. Dr. Vece Paes, who participated in the 1972 Munich Olympics, became a significant role model for Aldrin. Another inspiration was Pargat Singh, with whom Aldrin had the honor of playing at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. When Aldrin’s school team won the interschool tournament, four boys were selected for the U16 Camp. Among them were Aldrin and Sandeep Somesh, who later went on to win the Sub-Junior Nationals, setting both on a promising path in hockey. Remarkably, Aldrin and Somesh have shared their academic journey from the 1st grade to their final year of B.Com.
A significant figure in Aldrin’s development was his school coach, Mr Shivaprakash, who encouraged him to play as a fullback despite Aldrin’s initial reluctance, as he believed the forwards received more accolades. Another influential mentor was Mr. Raphael, his coach at the SAI Sports Hostel, who played a pivotal role in shaping his career.
Like many great players back then, Anil Aldrin’s storied career in field hockey is punctuated by his participation for Air India in the Nehru Hockey Tournament, Aga Khan Cup, and Beighton Cup. Aldrin fondly recalls the camaraderie and esprit de corps that characterized his team.
Anil Aldrin: I played all these tournaments for Air India, and it was great fun, as the camaraderie on the team was excellent. Whatever the result, we would laugh and joke about everything else, which became my strong point. My first nationals were with Karnataka at Madurai in 1992, and although being a solid team on paper, we did not qualify for the Quarterfinals.
The 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games Silver Medallist had his crowning achievement in Atlanta in 1996. The grandeur of the Olympic Games and the simplicity of residing in Georgia Tech University’s student accommodations painted a vivid picture of the dichotomy between everyday life and the extraordinary. For Aldrin, dining alongside luminaries like Monica Seles and Lindsay Davenport offered a surreal glimpse into the lives of the world’s greatest athletes. A memorable moment occurred when Indian players took a photo with Seles, accidentally overlooking Davenport, who later won the gold medal in tennis.
However, Atlanta proved to be a bittersweet experience on the hockey front. Despite being touted as the tournament’s dark horse, the Indian team faced an unexpected defeat against Argentina in their opening match. Subsequent draws with Germany and Pakistan, both within India’s grasp to win, added to the frustration. A victory over Spain, the eventual silver medallists, provided some solace, yet the overall performance fell short of the high expectations.
1998 stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit and perseverance of Anil Aldrin, whose career witnessed a triumphant resurgence against formidable odds. Reflecting on the 1998 Bangkok Asiad, Aldrin describes the tournament as one of the most exquisite moments of his life, set against a backdrop of three major tournaments: the World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, and the Asian Games. Despite joining the World Cup team late due to company training and not being in peak condition, Aldrin faced the disappointment of a ninth-place finish.
His absence from the Commonwealth Games was marked by a battle with Herpes Zoster, which left one side of his body semi-paralyzed. Upon his recovery, disillusioned and contemplating a shift towards higher studies in management, Mr. M. K. Kaushik’s impassioned plea: “THE COUNTRY NEEDS YOU!” rekindled Aldrin’s fortitude.
Anil Aldrin: Those words burned my mind, and I joined my team, Air India, as soon as I got the doctor’s clearance to play. We won the tournament in Chandigarh, and I was recalled to camp. Mr. Saju Joseph worked extra hard on my fitness, and I was lucky to be selected for the team.
While discussing his playing style and training regime as a defender, Aldrin said, “My approach was essentially to try and anticipate the attacker’s next move, and my USP was that I could successfully organize a defense when we were outnumbered following a counterattack. The essential qualities of a defender are a cool mind, agility, and the willingness to put your body on the line for the team. I trained under Athletics Coach Mr. Beedu alongside badminton great Pullela Gopichand when not in the training camps, which helped with agility and strength. For skill enhancement, I had to train on each required skill independently. That is where I think, in hindsight, I could have improved a lot more if I had a coach to oversee things.”
Former Olympic goalkeeper and Head Coach, Japan Women Jude Menezes, says, “In my humble opinion, Anil Aldrin was one of the best defenders I played with. His leadership, communication, and tackling were outstanding. An unsung hero. A great guy, so humble and unassuming.” And it is no wonder that Aldrin’s defensive prowess parallels Rahul Dravid as the ‘Wall of Indian hockey’ and echoes even today the high esteem he holds. Aldrin humbly deflects these comparisons to cricket legend Rahul Dravid. He reminisced about their school hockey days, and Mr. Raphael’s belief that Dravid could have excelled in hockey had he pursued it seriously.
Aldrin notes that the transition from natural grass to AstroTurf brought about a seismic shift in the game’s tempo and physical demands. The increased speed and agility required on AstroTurf contrasted sharply with the slower, more deliberate play on natural surfaces. Rolling substitutions and the abolition of the offside rule have further revolutionized the sport, necessitating meticulous tactical planning to maintain a competitive edge.
Outside field hockey and today, you will see Anil Aldrin as a key figure at the Vidyashilp Academy Bengaluru for two years as their Sports Director, overseeing three schools, two playschools, and Vidyashilp University. His primary objective is to foster holistic physical development through active participation in various sports. Looking ahead, Aldrin envisions preparing teams and individuals capable of challenging the best in their respective games and emerging victorious while illuminating pathways to excellence.
M K, Kaushik courtesy of Sportstar
In a very detailed conversation with TSC’s Ravi Mandapaka, Anil reflected on his illustrious career and took immense pride in seizing opportunities. The 1994 Asian Games stands out, and despite not being in the starting eleven, he emerged as India’s highest goal scorer in the tournament. Equally noteworthy is his remarkable recovery in 1998, from a semi-paralyzed state to clinching the Asian Games gold within four months. His all-time favorite player is Floris Bovelander, while coaches who profoundly influenced his game include Mr. Shivaprakash, Mr. Raphael, Mr. Cedric D’Souza, and the late Mr. M. K. Kaushik.
When Ravi asked about the current state of Indian hockey, Aldrin provided a nuanced perspective. While he acknowledged the players’ enhanced fitness levels, he lamented the persistent organizational chaos at the grassroots level. Despite the hurdles, Anil Aldrin is optimistic about India’s chances at the Paris Olympics. He believes the team can reach the semi-finals, and although winning a medal is a challenging task, it remains within reach.
Anil Aldrin’s guidance to young players is simple and profound: enjoy playing, strive for excellence in every competition, learn from your mistakes, and stay open to new ideas and techniques. To enhance the sport’s infrastructure and management, he recommends that state and district associations take proactive steps to promote hockey, develop turf grounds, and ensure financial stability for conducting regular tournaments across all categories. I firmly see it as a vision beyond immediate improvements; it embodies a legacy in grassroots hockey and will resonate with the senior national teams.
As Indian hockey strides from Paris to Hulunbuir City, to Johor Bahru, and beyond, I am sure the echoes of Anil Aldrin’s journey serve as a poignant reminder of the sport’s glorious past and promising future.
Thank you for a great read.