Chandigarh, Nov. 2 -- Dutch hockey legend Floris Jan Bovelander, a gold medallist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and 1990 World Cup, on Monday praised Punjab's contribution to Indian hockey, saying the sport in the country could not be imagined without the state.
Bovelander expressed delight at being invited by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to witness the Hero Asian Champions Trophy 2026 in Punjab, recalling the CM's visit to the Netherlands in April this year and his deep passion for hockey.
"I was both astonished and honoured that CM Bhagwant Singh Mann remembered me and personally invited me to be part of the prestigious tournament. The invitation reflected the Chief Minister's immense love for hockey and that I made it a point to travel to Jalandhar," he said on the sidelines of the championship currently underway at Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar.
The legendary drag-flicker, popularly known as Flop, Floppie and Boem Boem Bovelander, represented the Netherlands in 241 international matches between October 1985 and August 1996, scoring 215 goals.
Describing India as a powerhouse of world hockey, he highlighted the contribution of Asian countries, particularly India and Pakistan, to the Olympic movement and the sport's international popularity.
Bovelander said Punjab had played a significant role in taking the game to greater heights. He added that most of his memories of Indian hockey were associated with players from Punjab, particularly Sikh players.
During his visit, Bovelander participated in a joint training session with 37 Punjab coaches and young trainees of the Punjab government's Surjit Hockey Academy.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.