“Indian Men’s Hockey Team Attend Unique Chess Masterclass with Prachura P Padakannaya”
Olympic bronze medalists explore chess strategies to sharpen decision-making, planning, and foresight on the hockey field
Bengaluru, Oct 13: In a first of its kind initiative, India’s two time Olympic bronze medal-winning men’s hockey team participated in a unique chess masterclass conducted by former international chess player and co owner Prachura P Padakannaya at the Sports Authority of India (SAI) campus.
The session aimed to help players improve decision making and strategic thinking by drawing parallels between chess and hockey. Prachura emphasized key principles such as planning, anticipation, positioning, and patience, showing how these can be effectively applied on the hockey field. Using video examples from actual matches, he highlighted the importance of foresight, calculated risk, and mental discipline in competitive sports.
During the class, Prachura outlined the three key phases of chess the opening, middle game, and endgame comparing them to hockey situations: starting strong like in the opening, controlling the midfield like the middle game, and finishing decisively like a hockey striker in the endgame. He referenced India’s Tokyo Olympics bronze medal match, praising the team’s composure in holding a 5-4 lead against Germany.
Prachura also drew analogies between chess pieces and hockey positions: pawns as the first line of defense, rooks and bishops creating structure and movement, knights surprising opponents, and the queen representing versatility and dominance.
Reflecting on the session, Prachura said, “The progression in both games is very similar. The team was curious and engaged, asking about chess strategies, and it was wonderful to see their enthusiasm. Many players had prior experience with chess, and the interaction was fantastic.”
The masterclass concluded with a friendly chess game, with midfielder Vivek Sagar Prasad and captain Harmanpreet Singh taking part, cheered on by the team. Vivek described the session as insightful, noting that thinking seven to eight moves ahead in chess offered lessons he could apply to hockey. He compared his role on the field to both the knight and queen in chess, balancing unpredictability and freedom.
Harmanpreet Singh highlighted the value of cross-sport learning, while coach Craig Fulton praised the initiative, saying, “Chess teaches strategic thinking and planning several steps ahead, which is directly relevant to hockey. The session not only sharpens decision-making but also engages players positively in their free time.”
The session marks a novel approach in Indian sports, combining mental agility from chess with tactical excellence in hockey, and could pave the way for more interdisciplinary learning programs.
