By Gerry D`Mello Muscat
(A special thanks to Shri Brian Nazareth, Muscat (Viren’s close relative) for the relevant inputs.)

A Mangalorean in India's Olympic Squad
VIREN RASQUINHA

Will the Mangaloreans soon have a Olympic medallist among them?  India since 1928 has won Eight Olympic golds in hockey.  Will the present Indian Olympic hockey team comprising of a middlefielder Viren Rasquinha, a Mumbai Mangalorean, bring home an Olympic medal?  The chances seem to be very bright.

Viren Rasquinha, who resides at 3, Union Building, 37 St.John Baptist Road, Bandra, Mumbai was born to Mangalorean parents. His dad Eric Rasquinha’s family originally hails from Mangalore (Milagres Parish) & his mom Dr.Merlyn Rasquinha nee Nazareth whose roots are in Karkala (D.K.)  are now settled in Bandra, Mumbai. 

Viren has always been an exceptional student.  Having completed his High School education at  St.Stanislaus High School, Bandra,  he  ranked 13th in the Mumbai S.S.C. Merit list in 1995-1996 with an average of 91.3% marks.  He graduated with a first class from M.M.K. College of Commerce & Economics, Bandra, though he attended very few lectures because of his calling to serve his nation on the hockey field culminating being a part of the squad that won the Junior World Cup. Mixing sports with academic excellence Viren was twice adjudged as the best all-round student of that college.  Though he wanted to pursue his studies further by doing a Management Course, he gave up his M.B.A. studies to become a hockey player!……but he still insists : ‘when my hockey days are over I will pursue my MBA’.

As a kid Viren had only one dream.  He wanted to become a hockey star.  For someone who grew up in the era of television, he watched many hockey matches often on T.V.  The mere mention of hockey game fired up the spirit of.Viren.  Although born into an academically inclined family he set his sights on greatness by keeping his grandfather the Late Shri Lawrence Nazareth as his role model , a man who against all odds went from a tiny hamlet of Karkal, D.K.  to become a top notch  lawyer of the Bombay High Court and a bridge player of repute. His mother  Dr.Merlyn once remarked to the newspaper Mid-day  “Whatever Viren has achieved he has achieved on his own. We as a family have only encouraged him’.

Viren has a dream a to see India once again at the top of all hockey playing nations.  He says: ‘ the Europeans have completely taken over the game’ but continues: ‘I’m sure our style of hockey which is soothing to the eye, will prevail’.  An extremely hard working and quick thinking player, he wants to change the face of Indian hockey.  He is a talented midfielder and is the best man-to-man marker on the hockey field. 

This wiry Bandra boy can be classified as the new age Indian sportsman. Known as ‘ The Leech’ in International hockey for his close man-marking skills, he is considered as one of the best defence players in the team.  With his clean tackling and accurate passes of the hockey ball, and by his self-positioning on the field, he has carved a niche for himself as a good defender.  He is constantly working on improving his skill in every aspect of the game by watching the play of other international teams.  With every game he endeavours to improve on his speed, endurance, fitness level, ruthless attacks and counter attacks, tackling and passing the ball, man-marking skill and to gain an all-round ability!  He is not happy with a draw anymore; he wants to win the match for his country, India!

Viren is an epitome of the new age Indian sportsman, a person who combines academic excellence with sporting brilliance, no wonder that the influential TIMES OF INDIA  called him a “a role model for the young…The midfielder combines discipline with a cool attitude” with his cool impish looks viren is the new poster boy of Indian Hockey

Viren Rasquinha made his debut with India’s junior team in 1999 as a 19 year old and played as a member of the “India Under-21” hockey team for 2 years.  Now as a member of the senior team he represents India at the highest level in international tournaments like Champions Trophy, Asian Games and Olympic games!

Viren’s India caps :

A) Member of the India-Under 21 Hockey team :-

- Test series with Holland – Under 21 (Aug. 1999)
- 8 nation tournament in Poznan Poland (Aug 1999, 2000, 2001)
- 4 nation tournament in Cairo, Egypt (Feb. 2000)
- 5 nation tournament in Kuala Lampur, Malasia (Aug. 2001)
- 7th Men’s junior WORLD CUP in Australia (Oct 2001) – Gold medal.

B) Member of the Indian Hockey team :-

- 4 nation tournament in Adelaide & Melbourne Australia (June 2002)
- 4 nation tournament in Amsterdam, Holland (Aug 2002)
- Champions Trophy in Cologne, Germany (Sept. 2002)
- Asian Games in Busan, South Korea (Oct 2002) – Silver Medal
- 4 nation tournament in Perth and Sydney, Australia (June 2003 – Gold
- Panasonic Cup in Hamburg, Germany (July 2003) – Gold Medal
- Champions Trophy in Amsterdam, Holland (August 2003)
- Asia Cup in Kaula Lampur, Malasia (Sept. 2003) – Gold Medal
- Afro – Asian Games in Hyderabad, India (October 2003) – Gold Medal
- Test Series with Holland in Hyderabad (February 2004)
- Olympic Qualifiers in Madrid, Spain (March 2004)
- Olympic Games in Athens, Greece (Aug. 2004)

C) A player for Air-India Hockey Team (Sept. 2000 – Feb. 2002).

Viren Rasquinha is currently working for Indian Oil Corporation Ltd as Asst. Manager, H.R. Division while playing for its Hockey team as well.

On the 15th of August when India awakes to the sound of the bugles from the ramparts of the Red Fort signalling its 57th year of independence and another year of democracy and freedom, the Indian hockey team will be gearing itself to battle on the hockey field in Athens, the cradle of  Olympic Games,  in a match against Holland.

Viren,  will carry with him on the field  the  goodwill & aspirations of millions of Indians to bring home to India the coveted gold, and that of  the diaspora of the Mangalorean Catholic Community worldwide, which is hungry for having a sporting hero among its fold.