Hockey Personalities... featuring DATO R.YOGESWARAN

Interviewed by Charles Lim

On 28 February 1940, in the little town of Sungkai, Perak, our very own hockey legend, Dato' R. Yogeswaran, was born to a family of 10 siblings. He was the 4^th child in this large family.

Growing up in the hillside town of Tapah, he was a boy of many talents and played football, cricket and hockey for school and state. In cricket, he went on to represent North Malaysia and Malaysian President’s XI.

The young Yogeswaran spent much of his free time learning his hockey trade with the European planters, Royal Malay Regiment soldiers and teachers on the school field of the Government English School (GES), Tapah.

In 1957, at the tender age of 17, Dato' Yogeswaran captained the GES to win the National Schools Tournament and hence, his long association with the sport of hockey, despite his first love being FOOTBALL!

Few would also know that the reward for winning the tournament then, were seats for the whole team in 'Blok J' in Stadium Merdeka for the Independence Declaration on 31 August 1957! Dato' Yogeswaran still fondly remembers the experience of being part of this historical event and the repeated cries of 'MERDEKA!', by our then Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. What an experience for this boy from Perak!

Just a year later, Dato' Yogeswaran was selected for the Malaysian hockey team and played his first international hockey game against the mighty Koreans in Stadium Merdeka under flood lights! This was the beginning of an illustrious hockey playing career, which includes participating in the inaugural International Hockey Tournament in 1961 in Ahmedabad, several Asian Games (Jakarta – 1962, Bangkok - 1966), Olympics (Tokyo – 1964, Mexico – 1968) and numerous other tournaments.

Dato' Yogeswaran (3rd from the right) at the International Hockey Tournament(1961) in Ahmedabad

The combined Malaysia-Singapore team back in 1964

Dato' Yogeswaran perfected the skill of hitting on the 'wrong foot', a skill most coveted by left-sided players, long before reverse-stick hits became a norm in today's modern hockey game. Combined with his stunning speed on the field, he revelled in the left wing and left-inside positions, in the traditional 'Pyramid System', mesmerising the opponents as well as his own team-mates!

This eventually earned him a place in the Asian All-Stars team in 1966. And back in the days of grass hockey, dominated by the hockey powerhouses of India and Pakistan, this meant Dato' Yogeswaran was effectively one of the best left-wingers in the world!

Alas, his hockey playing career spanned only a short 11 years, retiring from international hockey in 1969, at the age of 29, but fortunately for Malaysian hockey, his love affair with the sport did not end there!

Dato' Yogeswaran, a holder of an All England Hockey Association coaching certificate, continued his contribution to Malaysian hockey, taking on the role of coach and subsequently, manager of the numerous national hockey teams - Juniors, Ladies and Men's team (1975 World Cup Kuala Lumpur, 1979 Junior World Cup Paris, 1982 World Cup Bombay, Commonwealth Games, Kuala Lumpur – 1998, Sydney Olympics – 2000, Hockey World Cup, Kuala Lumpur - 2002).

Some of the notable RSC hockey section members under his mentorship include S.Bala, Dato Poon Fook Loke, K.Bala, Dato Ow Soon Kooi, Colin Sta Maria, KT Rajan, Tam Chiew Seng, Steven Van Huizen, MA Sambu, Supt. Mohinder Singh and the Teh sisters, Siew Bee and Siew Heng. Until today, they still hide their cigarettes behind their backs in the presence of Dato' Yogeswaran (Credit to their parents for their good upbringing!).

Managing the 2000 Sydney Olympics Hockey team

He continues to share his vast experience and passion for the development of hockey through his involvement in the multi-million 1MAS Hockey program as the current Deputy Chairman of the Steering Committee, and is the Curriculum Chairman of the Asian Hockey Academy, which was set up in April 2011. 

Dato' Yogeswaran was been inducted into the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) Hall of Fame in 2004, in addition to his earlier induction into the Hall of Fames of Royal Selangor Club and Astro Arena, in recognition of his contribution to the sport in Malaysia.

During his long association with the sport, his wife of 44 years, Datin June Shanta (Brinsford Lodge-trained teacher) and his 2 daughters, Shirnita (accountant) and Shirlena (practicing lawyer), have always stood by him and supported him during his difficult early years in the sport (especially when he was posted to Kuala Lumpur, whilst his young family was based in Ipoh) and throughout his hockey career (as player, coach and manager). He recalls the time when both his daughters flew to Sydney in 2000 at their own expense to support and care for him during his stint as Manager of the Men's Hockey team at the Olympics!

Dato' Yogeswaran, the mentor, and his prodigies, at his 70th birthday celebration

Dato' Yogeswaran believes that the way forward for Malaysian hockey, is for clubs to play a bigger role in the junior development programs and to build interest in the game from an early age, with the direct involvement of parents. In his exact words - “If you want your children to be Champions, then parents must start thinking like Champions!”.

He also believes that we need more specialised sports clubs e.g. Hockey Clubs, with their own hockey facility and professional management, as opposed to multi-sports club, if we want to develop a bigger pool of quality hockey players for the future.

Today, at the grand age of 72, Dato' Yogeswaran enjoys the company of his friends and family (especially when the conversation is about sports!), and he believes that he is where he is today because of them. The hockey stick and pace of the game have long been replaced with golf clubs and the leisurely pace of the fairways. And he now aspires to be the best coach and manager to his grandchildren – Rebecca and Aiden!

Being a simple man, his favourite food is salted or dry fish curry (karuvadu kulambu) and fried eggs, and his favourite drink is the occasional White Label whiskey-water, on-the-rocks!

Needless to say, his favourite woman is....  his wife!

The proud family!  

Final words of wisdom from Dato' Yogeswaran :-

1. Always display HONOUR and RESPECT! - For the Rules and Regulations of the game. For the Officials of the game. For your team-mates (players and officials) and your opponents.

2. Never do anything that will bring embarrassment to your family, your team, your sport, your beloved nation and most importantly YOURSELF!