How Dronacharya awardee Merzban 'Bawa' Patel shaped hockey in Mumbai

Merzban Patel aka Bawa, who was conferred with the Dronacharya award, opened up on his coaching philosophy, the Bombay Republicans club and hockey in Mumbai.

Nandakumar Marar


Indian World Cupper Yuvraj Walmiki and his brother Devinder both help out 'Bawa' Merzban Patel at the Mumbai Hockey Limited turf in Churchgate.   -  Twitter (@YWalmiki)

The Dronacharya award (lifetime category), conferred on Merzban Patel by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sport, took Vile Parle-based Bawa, as he is popularly called in hockey circles, by surprise. “I have not chased awards and was not aware that work done by me to promote hockey at the local level is being noticed by national sports administrators,” he said.