~ Poovanna suffered a facial damage through the Hero Hockey India League 2024/25 ~
Bengaluru, Might 16 2025: After a short stint with the Indian junior group in 2023, Poovanna Chandura Boby is now coaching with the senior core group forward of European leg of the FIH Hockey Professional League leg. The 22-year-old is presently a part of the senior nationwide camp on the Sports activities Authority of India (SAI) Centre in Bengaluru and has made it into the 40-member core group.
With the junior group, Poovanna had a fruitful spell successful the Gold and Bronze medals on the 2022 and 2023 Sultan of Johar Cup respectively. He was additionally a part of India’s Males’s Junior Asia Cup successful squad in 2023 and made it to the senior nationwide camp in August 2024.
About his expertise coaching within the camp, Poovanna stated, “I’ve performed for junior group in 2023 and now coaching with the senior gamers, I see loads of variations between them and us. There’s loads of work we have to put in to get to that degree. It doesn’t matter how match you’re, you might want to get significantly better to compete in opposition to European groups. We’re getting gassed out each session, however we have to push laborious to maintain up. It has been an excellent journey to date.”
Poovanna performed the Hero Hockey India League 2024/25 for champions Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, nevertheless, he couldn’t play the whole match because of an unlucky damage. Of their seventh match in opposition to JSW Soorma Hockey Membership, Poovanna suffered a facial damage whereas defending a penalty nook.
“It was a penalty nook and I typically don’t rush third, so I didn’t have my face masks on. Harmanpreet Singh fired a shot and it deflected off my teammate’s stick and hit my higher cheek. So, I used to be rushed off the sector and I needed to get my surgical procedure carried out instantly. I couldn’t play the remainder of the match,” he defined.
He additionally revealed that he may have made his senior group debut through the house leg of the FIH Hockey Professional League 2024-25 in Bhubaneswar however missed out on the chance because of his damage. “Fortunately we gained the HIL however the coach advised me that I used to be referred to as up for the Professional League squad however I couldn’t go due to my damage. Therefore, I joined the camp early, labored with the physio as a way to get in fine condition for the coaching camp in March,” he added.
Hailing from Kodagu, previously generally known as Coorg, Poovana comes from a household the place hockey is a proud custom. The Kodava hockey competition is famend worldwide for being one of many world’s largest hockey tournaments, with tons of of households taking part within the occasion as custom.
“Once I was a child I used to observe these video games and I at all times wished to put on my household jersey, in order that impressed me to start out enjoying at school and I bought naturally good at it. Enjoying for my household group was a dream come true for me after which I pursued the game professionally. I’ve by no means had a Plan B, hockey has at all times been my prime precedence.”
Speaking concerning the dynamic he shares with the opposite senior gamers of the squad, Poovanna shared, “The seniors are very straightforward to speak to and we children be taught loads from them since they’ve been enjoying for lots of years and have significantly better expertise than us. We have to be taught from them as a result of we have to carry ahead their legacy forward within the coming years.”
“I look as much as Manpreet Singh and Hardik Singh loads as a result of they play the place I play in midfield. I like how calm and composed they’re after they get the ball and progress the sport forward. Some issues that they do on the sector are actually inspiring.”
Poovanna additionally spoke about his expertise coaching below coach Craig Fulton. “I’m coaching below him proper now and he’s actually good. He’s straightforward to strategy and you may ask him no matter you need and he offers you clear solutions. Every time we practice, if somebody does one thing incorrect, he stops the sport and he teaches them, which helps us loads and provides a really worthwhile perspective.”
After lacking out the alternative in February, Poovanna is set to make his Indian senior group debut and solidify his place within the squad through the European leg of the FIH Professional League. “The upcoming match is essential for me and I’ll guarantee I work on my shortcomings tirelessly and do my finest with no matter possibilities I get,” he concluded on a robust observe.
