A few years ago, while on a return trip to India, I visited One Thousand Hockey Legs, a non-profit organisation based in Delhi that aims to give disadvantaged children an opportunity to learn about and play hockey. I was very inspired by the charity’s work, which is now running hockey teams in 80 schools across five cities in India.
On returning to Cambridge, I told my club mates at Cambridge South about the great work being done by OTHL. The club has since helped support OTHL by donating playing shirts, sticks and equipment, as well as through raising funds at club quiz nights.
Last week I heard from Mr Arumugam, the founder of OTHL, that one of the boys from the program, Kishore Arya, was selected to represent India in this year's Under 17 Asia Cup tournament in Dhaka. Kishore, whose father is a rickshaw driver, has been part of OTHL in 2014 and represented Delhi last year. We hope that this will inspire many kids from similar backgrounds to pick up a hockey stick. Kishore is the first player from the OTHL program to represent India.
This also provides an opportunity for OTHL to showcase to the world that charities and NGOs that work with children and encourage them to pick up sports in developing nations can actually be a success. This wouldn’t have been possible without CSHC and other like-minded & big hearted organisations.
Thank you to the members of Cambridge South all for the support you have provided by attending quiz nights and passing on your old hockey stuff to OTHL!
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