Rasquinha signs off on a winning note

The Olympian bid adieu to competitive hockey at the Bombay Hockey Association (BHA) ground on Friday, reports Uthra Ganesan.

FOR SOMEONE who has been almost a star for the past few months, it wasn't expected to begin with an apology. "I am sorry for not picking up the phone earlier but I have been inundated with calls today," was the first thing Viren Rasquinha said on being contacted.

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But then, Rasquinha has always been the quintessential gentleman. The Olympian bid adieu to competitive hockey at the Bombay Hockey Association (BHA) ground on Friday — he will be studying for his MBA after this — and he did it in style, leading Indian Oil to the 26th PSPB tournament title.

"It feels great to go out on a winning note, especially now that I won't play competitive hockey at this level ever again," admitted an exhausted but charged Rasquinha.

Asked what went through his mind just before the match, Rasquinha said, "It was emotional, but I had been preparing for it. I was surprised to see a huge crowd for the match. My family was there to see me play, and my mom came, for the first time ever in her life, to see a match at the ground. It was simply amazing."

Interestingly, the man who was known as much for his leech-like tenacity on the field as for his dives did not disappoint on this day either. He sustained a cut above the eye, and laughed when told so. "Well, I would rather not be known for my injuries!"