Motashaw’s momentum

He wears the India colors and has the rare distinction of representing his country at three World Cup events and one Asian cup in roller hockey. Eighteen-year-old Shaun Motashaw has also played in innumerable state and national level tournaments. Roller hockey (or rink hockey) is a game virtually unknown to the masses of India, though hockey itself is immensely popular. Competitive hockey on skates is played by a select few and is conducted under the auspices of the Roller Skating Federation of India (RSFI).

At Barcelos, Portugal Motashaw was part of the Indian squad at the 5th U-20 World Championship of Roller Hockey conducted by the FIRS (Federation Internationale De Roller-Sports) from September 10 to 17, 2011. He was also in the team at the 40th World B-Group Men Roller Hockey Championship at Dornbirn, Austria from October 23 to 30, 2010. Especially memorable was the 14th Asian Roller Skating Championship at Kaohsiung City, Chinese Taipei in 2010 where the Indian team won a bronze medal. Motashaw’s around-the-world experiences started early at the 4th Junior Boys World Roller Hockey Championship in Bassano Del Grappa in Italy in October 2009 where India gained valuable exposure against the world’s 14 best countries.

Playing the fast-paced game on quads (roller skates with two front and two rear wheels, different from inline skates where all wheels are arranged in a straight line or blades on which ice hockey is played), Motashaw enjoys the speed, skill, balance, quick reflexes and thrill of the game which lasts for 40 minutes with a 10 minute break in between. "I like speed and roller hockey is the third fastest game in the world! I enjoy playing in the forward position, but sometimes I play in the defense, depending on the situation and the instructions of the coach,” he remarks. Success at state and national level has meant rigorous practice at unearthly hours starting at four or five in the morning! Speed skating at the Bandra Kurla complex under coach P.K. Singh, advanced training under his mentor Gulratan Singh Rathod (technical director of the RSFI) in Delhi, attending strenuous month-long camps in places like Chandigarh, Delhi, Visakha­patnam before each international tournament— the young man has taken them all in his skating stride!

"Shaun has many achievements to his credit, yet he is a very unassuming and down-to-earth lad,” says his proud aunt Armin Dutia Motashaw. Grandfather Keki Motashaw and Shaun’s parents Kashmira and Rumi Motashaw have always encouraged him to roll along smoothly in his chosen sport. "A coach named Pankaj Manihar started to train children in our complex Mahindra Gardens at Goregaon in Bombay when Shaun was nine years old,” states Rumi who runs a business trading in used textile machines. Kashmira is with LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) as manager, pension and group schemes department. Sister Kayan has started a business in honey. Shaun acknowledges the tremendous support he has received from his family who have travelled to various centers to watch him play. "At least my dad or my uncle (mama) Neville Patel was always there for my matches. For my first World Cup in Italy, my family and my uncle’s (kaka) family were there to cheer the Indian team! My dad is instrumental in making me what I am today. He videos my games, points out my strengths and weaknesses. Gool Ghadiali, then principal of Maneckji Cooper School, and the principals of Mithibai College and Patkar College where he is now a First Year BMS (Bachelor of Management Studies) student have been understanding and encouraging, he mentions. Support by the Indian government is conspicuously absent! "Players have to put in their own money at every stage. We had to pay for our own accommodation even outside the country,” he rues.

Initially Shaun was the only player selected from Maharashtra at the national level and he has captained the state several times. "Roller hockey is in the curriculum of many northern schools (in Delhi, Haryana, etc) hence their hold on the game and their stamina is very strong,” he asserts. "I wish someone would come forward to support our game financially. We do not have a proper flooring to practice on. In comparison with the European countries (traditionally strong contenders in roller hockey), India lags behind in professional training, equipment and infrastructure,” he regrets. European teams are sponsored and players are highly paid. This brings in greater competition and enhances performance, he believes. "This game has helped me in overall personality development. I have become smart, independent, bold and I have made many good friends with northern and international players,” the roller skater acknowledges.