Shanmugam, Modi on a mission in Qatar

BANGALORE: Two Bangaloreans are making the most of their proficiency in hockey to help Qatar qualify for this year’s Asian Games to be held in Incheon, South Korea, from September 19 to October 4.
Former international P Shanmugam, who mentored Karnataka juniors to victory in the Nationals in 2005 and 2010, is the Qatar hockey team’s chief coach while his fellow Canara Bank teammate Khalid Modi, who was the goalkeeping coach of the Indian women’s team from 2008 to 2010, is in charge of goalkeepers.
"This offer came to Jude Felix who referred our names as he is busy with his hockey academy," Shanmugam told TOI from Qatar.
The first major challenge for the duo is to prepare the team, mostly made up of Indians and Pakistani nationals, for the Asian Games qualifiers in Dhaka from March 15 to 23.
"Our immediate target is to do well at the qualifiers. We have been working hard and are confident of making the grade," said Shanmugam, who signed a one-year contact in September last year.
A midfield general who controlled the game well during his playing days, Shanmugam realizes that the task will not be easy. "The job is very challenging. Despite hockey being played in local leagues and schools, some of our players haven’t played the game before. They need to learn about different aspects of the sport. Despite such limitations, we are trying to make a mark at the international level," he said.