BHOPAL: Habeeb Hasan, only PhD-holder degree hockey coach in the state, has been selected for Vishwamitra Award — MP’s highest coaching award. Habeeb had coached Tokyo Olympic bronze medal hockey players Vivek Sagar and Nilakantha Sharma.
Habeeb has been associated with hockey coaching since 1998. “After completing my playing career, I found it better to coach the budding talent which is available in large number in the state. I got this opportunity when I joined the sports department,” said 48-year-old Hasan. He has been associated with the MP men’s hockey academy since its inception in 2006.
Several important names like Vivek Sagar, Nilakantha, Arman Qureshi, Mohd Umar and several others learned the nuances of hockey under his coaching. Vishwamitra award is given by the sports department every year to the coaches.
Hailing the talent in the state Habeeb said they only right direction. “Players like Vivek and Nilakantha have proved that proper coaching can produce players for the Indian hockey teams. There is no dearth of talent in the state as the need is to give an opportunity to demonstrate their talent,” said Habeeb.
