P.T. Rajan Cup - Kandy's oldest hockey tournament to be revived in 2012

By Hafiz Marikar

HOCKEY: Kandy's "PT Rajan" Hockey Tournament, will be revived after 26 years. According to the President of Kandy District Hockey Association R. Maheswaran, the Association is hoping to revive Kandy's oldest hockey tournament with effect from 2012. The Association is of the opinion that the revival would boost hockey once again and bring it to the good old days.

Hockey in Kandy dates back to 1907, when the Indian Rajput Regiments occupied the Kandy Military Barracks, currently known as Police Barracks, were wanting to play hockey, almost every evening.

During that time St. Anthony's College was housed at the present St. Sylvester's College premises and they used the barracks square for all their sports. The boys of that era felt drawn to the game themselves; and tried their hand at knocking the ball about with a borrowed stick or two.

The fearless youngsters found some places vacant whenever the military men did not turn up. At that time, there was no clubs or tournaments, the Indians who were on military duty played hockey for themselves. After there departure there was no hockey.

Later in the 1930's, it was P.T. Rajan who introduced the game of hockey in Kandy by promoting the game to the schools sector and clubs. After the revival and formation of the Kandy District Hockey Association once again initiated by P.T. Rajan, he had the invaluable support and encouragement from V.D. Paul Raj, Late M.S. Jainudeen, and J.O. Mendis to promote the game with only a handful of clubs taking interest.

The teams during that period were Indian Students Hostel, St. Anthony's College under the name of "Hotspurs", Trinity College under the name of "Rabits", Kingswood College, Kandy Rovers SC and Imperial Motor Garage Sports Club.

As years went by, hockey flourished in Kandy with several schools in and around Kandy taking to hockey. During the World War, large number of clubs and schools including foreign teams played in Kandy.

Rajan fine sportsman

The late P.T. Rajan was a fine sportsman during his days in India, a versatile sportsman, sports benefactor, philanthropist, educationist and above all a gentleman of the highest calibre. He is the founder of Asoka Vidyalaya and Asoka Students Hostel, Kandy.

Considering his great services for sports and education, the Kandy Municipal Council named the Wewalpitiya play grounds as the" P.T. Rajan Playgrounds". This ground was used mostly by the students of Asoka Vidyalaya and the late P.T. Rajan who was instrumental in keeping the grounds' in perfect condition for all sports activities.

In 1950 when hockey was flourishing in Kandy, P.T. Rajan presented a challenge cup to the Kandy District Hockey Association., to be given to the winners of the Inter Club League Tournament.

It was P.T. Rajan who gave a push to the game of hockey, the late P.T. Rajan's name will be always be remembered by those who played in the late 1930's to 1950's. He did not believe in holding positions, but always acted with a motive to accomplish a task to perfection.

Despite being a educationist, he had been a caring god father for the game of hockey, especially those involved in carrying out their duties to increase the interest after the post-war economic growth. After P.T. Rajan's demise, his eldest son late T.R.R.Rajan made hockey a breeding ground in Kandy.

The youngest son of P.T. Rajan, B.D.R. Suri Rajan, also was a great lover of sports, came forward to support this tournament. He promised to sponsor through Sun and Asoka Group of Companies, the cup has been traced and given a new look, by Suri.

Hockey started in 1907

Glancing through some old records, I was able to find some facts. The first "Bully Off" in Kandy way back in the 1907 on the Bogambara Grounds.

The match between two clubs, Kandy Sports Club and the Industrial School Team met. The leaders of these two pioneer clubs were S.R. Hamer and R. Sparkes.

These two clubs played regularly and had opposition from the Regiments that were stationed in Kandy. The Kandy Sports Club composed of European Planters also met Dimbulla A CC and Dickoya MCC,

In the early years, Hockey flourished in Kandy. Kandy had several schools that took to hockey during the second World War, a large number of clubs and schools including foreign teams played in Kandy.

It must be recalled that M.S. Jainudeen, as Secretary of Kandy District Hockey Association went all out to popularize the game in Kandy.

Mention must be made of great players like the late Philip Buultjens, Bobby H.W. Jayaweera and Sam Elhart of Trinity fame, Robert Wright, P. Thangavelu, A.L. Perumal, George Mackay, A.H. Sherifdeen all of St. Anthony's, Lionidas James of Kingswood, M.I. Bin Ismail, Freddie White who was considered as the best Goal-Keeper not only in Sri Lanka but also in Asia.

14 teams in 1944

It is said that in 1944, Kandy DHA, had one of the finest league tournaments, in which 14 teams had taken part. They were St. Anthony's (Hotspurs), Trinity (Rabits), Kingswood, Police, the CLI, Kandy Rovers, The Sampans (Army), The Blue Jays (Army), All Anglo Indian XI, Parklands (Army) Indian Legionaries (Army), South East Asia Command team (Lord Mountbattans staff).

Later on M.S. Jainudeen took over the mantle as President and P. Thangavelu became the Secretary of Kandy District Hockey Association. It was Thangavelu who did his best to improve hockey at St. Sylvester's.

I will be failing in my duty if I do not mention the services rendered by people like Robinson, S.P.F.C. Scharenguivel, Leslie Handunge, H.W. Bobby Jayaweera, Philip Bulttjens, Dr. A.S. Samad Ismail one time President of KDHA, H. Wijekoon, Parine Silva, D.R. Rajaligam, Roy de Silva who was a long standing President of KDHA, Sri Lanka Hockey and NOC, Rtd. DIG Lakshman Senevirthne, I.M. Anver, Malcolm Perera, R. Maheswaran - the present President, H. Marikar, Tissa Jayasinghe, A.V.A. Pathirane, S. Shanmugaraja, M.D. Rupasinghe.