Secunderabad stories: When stylish khel khiladis ruled the Gymkhana grounds

Those were the days when Secunderabad inhaled and exhaled sport. Horse racing, cricket, football, hockey, and polo too, were not just games, but grand public spectacles that defined the city’s sporting ethos. From Eddie Aibara to Antic, from Susai to Y D James; from Bhupathy to legendary hockey umpire Mudaliar had left their indelible stamp of calibre on these hallowed precincts.

The thunder of hooves once reverberated around the magnificent Gymkhana and the Bison Polo Grounds, right until the late 1960s. Horse racing was a regular affair before it moved to the majestic Malakpet Racecourse. In those days, crowds thronged the Gymkhana, lining its perimeter to watch local horses gallop past in a blur of dust and excitement. These were the famed Gymkhana races, where betting was as much part of the ritual as the racing itself, few won, most lost, but the frenzy only grew stronger with every race. Many jockeys and trainers honed their craft here, while British-era stables stood proudly in what later became the West Marredpally bus terminal.

The thunder of hooves once reverberated around the magnificent Gymkhana and the Bison Polo Grounds, right until the late 1960s. Horse racing was a regular affair before it moved to the majestic Malakpet Racecourse

The Bison Polo Ground, under the Defence Ministry, was another magnetic venue. Polo attracted spectators from far and wide, drawn to the elegance and intensity of the royal sport. Reza and Siraj Attari, along with Jung, ran the Andhra Pradesh Riding Club at Masab Tank, nurturing fine polo players who regularly locked horns with formidable teams from north and central India. Earlier still, the vast Parade Grounds served as the perfect arena for polo tournaments that stretched over two weeks, accompanied by exquisite equestrian events. Tent pegging, in particular, left audiences spellbound, riders crisscrossing obstacles with flawless precision in a breathtaking display of skill and courage. Poor man’s sport, cycle polo, was a latter additional activity.

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Few today know that there were ambitious plans to transform the Gymkhana into a full-fledged sports complex. President V V Giri himself laid the foundation stone when M R Krishna headed the Andhra Pradesh Sports Council, at the southern end of the ground. Two more foundation stones followed on different occasions, but the dream never took shape. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Chief Minister N T Rama Rao laid another foundation stone for a cricket stadium at the present cricket grounds, yet nothing moved forward, as the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh and the Defence authorities refused to yield even an inch. Those stones remain silent sentinels of abandoned ambition. In hindsight, it was a blessing in disguise; otherwise, this precious lung space would have been swallowed by concrete, adding to Secunderabad’s urban woes.

Polo attracted spectators from far and wide, drawn to the elegance and intensity of the royal sport

When the Hyderabad Cricket Association shifted its office from the bunkers of Fateh Maidan to the Gymkhana, a solid fence enclosed the ground. New practice pitches came up, with camps run by Vijaya Paul and Vijay Mohan Raj. P R Man Singh, the very efficient HCA secretary, erected a wooden gallery to host the first big match in years, the visiting England team versus South Zone just to defy SAAP. His successor, N Shivlal Yadav, took development further, introducing pop-up sprinklers and, with the help of New Zealand curators, transforming the outfield into a lush green carpet throughout the year, using treated sewage water flowing in the adjacent nala. A pavilion, gym, and additional practice nets followed. Yet the dream of a stadium was finally shelved when the Defence Ministry refused permission, as it would have encroached on the adjacent football ground.

Sports thrived in Secunderabad

The Hyderabad Hockey Association too had grandiose plans. When the legendary top cop Mohanty headed the association, blueprints for a stadium were drawn up by an architect, but they never moved beyond paper.

The dream of a stadium was finally shelved when the Defence Ministry refused permission, as it would have encroached on the adjacent football ground

Still, sport thrived. Cricket, football, and hockey enjoyed golden years. Ranji, Duleep, Zonals, and the prestigious Moin-ud-Dowla tournaments brought top stars to the city. Legends like M L Jaisimha, Baig brothers Abbas Ali Baig, Murtaza and Mazher, the Khan family of Habib Khan and Sardar, our ever-loving chicha Abid Ali, Govindraj, Noshir Mehta, M V Narasimha Rao, N Shivlal Yadav, Mohd Azharuddin, Arshad Ayub, SL Venkatapati Raju, Noel David, VVS Laxman and others showed their talent while playing in the zonal game.

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The Rahim Soccer League drew such massive crowds that officials were forced to put up thatched fencing and sell nominally priced tickets just to manage the rush. Bank, Railway, Army, and Telephones teams dazzled packed galleries. Few will now remember the B S Venkat Rao Memorial Tournament, organised by die-hard football lover Dhankoti, who was in-charge for the Railway Grounds, a near month-long soccer extravaganza featuring all the city’s top teams. Zulfiqar, Ramaswamy, Salam, Janakiram and Kannan showcased their skills.

Those were indeed the glorious days, when team sports ruled, crowds roared, and Secunderabad lived and breathed sport

The neighbouring hockey grounds were equally vibrant. Peanut vendors and lime-juice bandis did roaring business as fans packed the venue. Played on a mud field, the hockey was raw, fast, and exhilarating, and the players rose to dizzying heights, mesmerising their supporters. Mukesh Kumar, Alloysious Edwards, Bheem Singh and other legends from the AOC and EME Centre sizzled on the grounds.

Athletics was another popular event in this arena. Veteran official and sincere official V Suryanarayana organised regular meets where talent bloomed and State stars took part. Also, basketball, handball and roller skating found their own niches in this ground.

At the southern end, the tennis courts witnessed a young Sania Mirza announce her arrival. Even as a teenager, she showed remarkable savvy, politely refusing to remove her cap for photographers because her sponsor’s name was emblazoned on it. Exposure mattered. Smart. Very smart.

Those were indeed the glorious days, when team sports ruled, crowds roared, and Secunderabad lived and breathed sport!!!