Only when there is competition will we improve our game, says star hockey goalkeeper Akash Chikte

It has been a hectic travel on Monday for Akash Chikte, the Indian hockey goalkeeper who won the best custodian award at the triumphant Men’s Hockey Asia Cup tournament in Dhaka. He travelled back to Delhi from Dhaka and was immediately put on the flight to Mumbai and on to a cab through the Mumbai roads to attend the Sports Journalists’ Association of Mumbai’s Golden Jubilee awards function.

The 25-year-old Chikte, who made his India debut in the 2016 Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament, was named the SJAM joint sportsmen of the year, sharing the award with chess Grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi.

Chikte was the most sought after at the awards ceremony at the Bombay Gymkhana on Monday afternoon, every scribe wanting his byte and other award winners and their friends and relatives, a photo with him.

The shy person from Maharashtra’s Yavatmal begged to be excused when he was asked to speak about the experience of being part of the Indian team that won the Asia Cup title after a 10-year gap. It needed some persuasion to get him to talk.

“The experience has been good. Having made my debut for India two years ago and getting a chance to play, the experience has …read more