Indian hockey is replete with stories of unfulfilled dreams and underutilised potential. The journey of Karnataka’s Ammanda Vasu Uthaiah is one such allegory. The former India half-back passed away in Bengaluru on Thursday following a brief illness. He was 82.
Born in Kadanga Marur, a hamlet in Virajpet taluk in Kodagu, the genial craftsman of classic Indian hockey was known for his skill and discipline. The left-half spent 16 years with Madras Engineer Group & Centre, during which time he donned the Indian colours against teams like Pakistan, Kenya, Britain and Singapore. Uthaiah was a key member of the Indian team which won a silver medal at the 1970 Asian Games in Bangkok. Although he was touted as an Olympic prospect, the rise of his contemporary Harmik Singh, ended his dreams.
