Ashish Kumar Ballal

Ashish Kumar Ballal
Born Ashish Kumar Ballal
Occupation Sportsperson

Ashish Ballal has represented India in the Olympics (1992-Barcelona), World Cup (1990-Lahore), 3 Champions Trophy tournaments (1989, 1993, 1996), 2 Asian Games (1994, 1998) and 2 Asia Cups (1989, 1993). Ballal became a household name in India when he saved two tie-breaker goals in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games hockey final between India and South Korea. India, captained by Ballal, went on to win the Asiad hockey gold at Bangkok after a gap of 32 long years.[1]

For his outstanding contribution to the game of hockey, Ballal was bestowed with the Arjuna Puraskar in 1997 by the Government of India. He coaches hockey players of India.[2] In a laudable effort, he runs the Dhanraj Ballal Hockey Academy in Bangalore as his way of giving back to the game of hockey in India.

Personal Life

Ballal hails from the Bunt community[3] and is married to fellow Bunt Sahana.He is a father to two sons Vansh Ballal and Yash Ballal.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Hockey win". Indian Express Newspaper. http://www.expressindia.com/news/ie/daily/19981220/35450744.html. Retrieved 2009-09-07. 
  2. ^ "Ashish Ballal to coach". The Tribune Newspaper. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010110/sports.htm#11. Retrieved 2009-09-07. 
  3. ^ a b Aby Jose (20 December 2010). "Goalkeeper who chased goals with grit". Times of India. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Goalkeeper-who-chased-goals-with-grit/iplarticleshow/7130131.cms. Retrieved 16 December 2011.