Niyaz leads Indian Railways to another hockey title

By Paritosh Pramanik

HE HAS made it a habit to lead the Indian Railways’ side to the podium. For the past five years, Nagpur’s Sayyad Niyaz Rahim is leading the Indian Railways’ team and under his captainship the team has won all the major hockey tournaments in the country.

On Saturday, the ace midfielder, who was also in the core probables list of Indian hockey team, escorted Railways to another podium finish when his side won the trophy at the 4th Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh Memorial Tournament at Chandigarh.

Indian Railways defeated hosts Chandigarh 5-4 in which Niyaz scored a goal.

In the semi-finals, Railways’ drubbed star-studded India Oil 3-1 and Niyaz, who works with South Central Railways, was declared man of the match.

The tournament also had teams from Bangladesh and United Kingdom.

Under Niyaz, Indian Railways have won the Surjeet Singh All India Hockey Tournament in Jalandhar, Punjab, Obaidullah Gold Cup in Bhopal, Jawaharlal Nehru Gold Cup in New Delhi, Lal Bahadur Shastri Gold Cup in New Delhi to name a few.

“It feels great to lead the Indian Railways team to the podium. I am happy that under my leadership the team has won so many titles. I will continue to perform the same way in future also,” Niyaz, who was adjudged best player of Lal Bahadur Shastri Gold Cup and Obaidullah Gold Cup in 2017 and 2022, told ‘The Hitavada’ after the final on Saturday.

With Hockey India planning to re-start Hockey India League, Niyaz hoped that he would get a chance to show his talent in the multi-team franchise-based league.

“It is a great news that Hockey India League will be organised again. If I get a chance to play for any team, I would try to give my best,” said Niyaz who parted ways with Vidarbha and Nagpur after he was selected by Sports Authority of India Mumbai in 2008.

“With no astro turf in Nagpur, I had to move out. Had there been an astro turf I would have got an opportunity to show my talent in my home town itself. 

“I still feel that Nagpur has lot of talent in hockey and city players would perform in much better if they get a chance to play on astro-turf. It is a good news that an astro turf is being sanctioned at Divisional Sports Complex in Mankapur. The  sooner it is constructed, the better for local players,” said Niyaz who has led Indian Railways to eight podium finishes in Hockey India nationals since 2012. 

This year, Indian Railways finished second best at Bengaluru Inter-Department Nationals.