When I first met Hokaito Zhimomi as a student in Calcutta, his zest for Cricket was firmly placed with signs of greater things to come.
By then, he was already so familiar with Eden Gardens, the holy grail of cricket in India. And he obviously nurtured that love for the game as is evident from the heights he has scaled. But regardless, even as a smart, confident and a chirpy Sports Star, he speaks so little of his greater achievements.
Yet, a National Media describes him as a Cricketer “known for his nippy left-arm fast bowling and for his right-handed big hitting prowess…a cricket coach’s ideal model when it comes to athleticism and smart fielding skills.”
Indeed, Nagaland can take pride in producing a home-bred Sports Star for a cricket crazy nation where its mad fans do not mind watching a really lengthy match standing by the roadside, and never minding sharing a small screen even in the humid air.
As the First Naga Cricketer (or for that matter, from the whole of North East Region) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders, Hokaito Zhimomi has certainly carved a niche for himself in the national stage. But the honour didn’t emerge overnight for his relationship with bats, bowling and wickets date back to his childhood.
He has always loved cricket, and it’s easy to take notice when it carries more than a decade of dedication. When you talk to a sportsperson, often, the game takes centre-stage but he also values education as he recalls doing his schooling from St Paul’s and Livingstone School Dimapur respectively. Perhaps, his graduation pursuit from St Xavier’s College, Calcutta, paved way for him to join the Kalighat Club in Kolkata but then he’s been playing cricket much before he joined college.
Prior to that, he played for Flamingo CC in Dimapur and eventually went to Guwahati for coaching wherein, his all round cricketing won the admiration of important people in the field that he was called by the Bengal Cricket Association after he has displayed his skills for several clubs.
Over the years, he has brushed shoulders with the like of Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly, played various matches including the finals of the Tiens Cricket Cup from Sparks CC as Captain, West Bengal under 19, Dalhousie Athletic Club, Kolkata, been Part of Kolkata Knight Riders, 1st Edition of IPL 2005, played for West Bengal both in the state and national level among several others.
For the Captain of a Cricket College Team, including the University of Calcutta in this aspect, Hokaito has come a long way developing himself in the true manner of sportsmanship. It is his aspiration to see sports grow in Nagaland, but he reasonably expresses that as of now, “Nagaland has no proper scope for cricket”.
“Obviously parents will not allow their children to take up cricket as a serious profession for now, because at the end of the day, money matters. Once this situation is changed, it’s going to be different’, he reasons while pointing to his observation that cricket is coming up in Nagaland. “We have a state team now and we will have a very good team”, he is hopeful.
He is a model for an entire sports generation as his commitment seems rooted in one simple goal of being part of the game for the sheer pleasure of it. The 25 year old insists that there are people behind his success as he respectfully holds the inspiration of Kito Zhimomi, Income Tax Commissioner Kolkata, Wati Jamir, Ato Yepthomi, Advisor to CM, the Chief Minister himself, and the Dimapur District Sports Association. He also has the support of his family tree including 3 siblings, a father who is a businessman and a mother homemaker.
The Young Cricketer is based in Kolkata, and plays for Kalighat Club. Fuelled with energy, I believe he serves as an inspiration for many cricket fans in the country, and is a true Sports Icon even for an infant sports-breeding place such as our State.
By then, he was already so familiar with Eden Gardens, the holy grail of cricket in India. And he obviously nurtured that love for the game as is evident from the heights he has scaled. But regardless, even as a smart, confident and a chirpy Sports Star, he speaks so little of his greater achievements.
Yet, a National Media describes him as a Cricketer “known for his nippy left-arm fast bowling and for his right-handed big hitting prowess…a cricket coach’s ideal model when it comes to athleticism and smart fielding skills.”
Indeed, Nagaland can take pride in producing a home-bred Sports Star for a cricket crazy nation where its mad fans do not mind watching a really lengthy match standing by the roadside, and never minding sharing a small screen even in the humid air.
As the First Naga Cricketer (or for that matter, from the whole of North East Region) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Kolkata Knight Riders, Hokaito Zhimomi has certainly carved a niche for himself in the national stage. But the honour didn’t emerge overnight for his relationship with bats, bowling and wickets date back to his childhood.
He has always loved cricket, and it’s easy to take notice when it carries more than a decade of dedication. When you talk to a sportsperson, often, the game takes centre-stage but he also values education as he recalls doing his schooling from St Paul’s and Livingstone School Dimapur respectively. Perhaps, his graduation pursuit from St Xavier’s College, Calcutta, paved way for him to join the Kalighat Club in Kolkata but then he’s been playing cricket much before he joined college.
Prior to that, he played for Flamingo CC in Dimapur and eventually went to Guwahati for coaching wherein, his all round cricketing won the admiration of important people in the field that he was called by the Bengal Cricket Association after he has displayed his skills for several clubs.
Over the years, he has brushed shoulders with the like of Ricky Ponting and Sourav Ganguly, played various matches including the finals of the Tiens Cricket Cup from Sparks CC as Captain, West Bengal under 19, Dalhousie Athletic Club, Kolkata, been Part of Kolkata Knight Riders, 1st Edition of IPL 2005, played for West Bengal both in the state and national level among several others.
For the Captain of a Cricket College Team, including the University of Calcutta in this aspect, Hokaito has come a long way developing himself in the true manner of sportsmanship. It is his aspiration to see sports grow in Nagaland, but he reasonably expresses that as of now, “Nagaland has no proper scope for cricket”.
“Obviously parents will not allow their children to take up cricket as a serious profession for now, because at the end of the day, money matters. Once this situation is changed, it’s going to be different’, he reasons while pointing to his observation that cricket is coming up in Nagaland. “We have a state team now and we will have a very good team”, he is hopeful.
He is a model for an entire sports generation as his commitment seems rooted in one simple goal of being part of the game for the sheer pleasure of it. The 25 year old insists that there are people behind his success as he respectfully holds the inspiration of Kito Zhimomi, Income Tax Commissioner Kolkata, Wati Jamir, Ato Yepthomi, Advisor to CM, the Chief Minister himself, and the Dimapur District Sports Association. He also has the support of his family tree including 3 siblings, a father who is a businessman and a mother homemaker.
The Young Cricketer is based in Kolkata, and plays for Kalighat Club. Fuelled with energy, I believe he serves as an inspiration for many cricket fans in the country, and is a true Sports Icon even for an infant sports-breeding place such as our State.
No comments:
Post a Comment