Mohammed Kounain Dad is trying to fit into his father슬롯사이트™s shoes. As flamboyant as his father in the frontline, Olympian Sameer Dad슬롯사이트™s son played a pivotal role in helping defending champions Madhya Pradesh enter the final of the Khelo India Youth Games 2023 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan stadium here. Being tried as a midfielder in this competition, Kounain may have contributed only two goals but has set up many during Madhya Pradesh슬롯사이트™s campaign towards retaining the title. Khelo India Youth Games 2023: Inspired by Neeraj Chopra, Javelin Thrower Deepika Continues the Habit of Breaking Meet Records.

Besides being part of the last Khelo India Youth Games winning team, the 16-year-old has also been part of Madhya Pradesh side that brought home the Junior National Championship title after a gap of 40 years. His selection into the Junior India Camp슬롯사이트™s core group is perhaps the first step towards another Dad donning India colours.

슬롯사이트œOf course, I am happy. I want him to work hard and make it to the main squad. Now that depends on how much effort he puts in to get coveted jersey,슬롯사이트� said Sameer while responding to the question about the son making it to the core group.

Hockey was natural choice for Kounain, who wanted to carry forward his father슬롯사이트™s legacy. 슬롯사이트œI never forced him to take up hockey. He was six and I was still playing. He would return from school and I would be leaving for my training. He would forcefully tag along with me to the ground,슬롯사이트� said Sameer, who won the 1998 Asian Games gold in Kuala Lumpur and was part of the 2000 Sydney Olympics squad that narrowly missed out on the semi-final berth.

Ask Kounain about his reasons for taking up hockey and the youngster asks what more choices did he have? 슬롯사이트œWhen you are brought up in an environment where your father and uncle are playing for India and hockey is the dinner table talk, it is bound to generate interest. Although, I must clarify that he gave me the freedom to do what I wanted,슬롯사이트� he added.

But having a coach who travels back to your house and has his eyes on you 24/7 can be a little stressful at times as Kounain trains under his father at the Madhya Pradesh Men슬롯사이트™s Hockey Academy.

슬롯사이트œI am asked to maintain discipline. Eat on time, study on time, sleep on time and train on time as well. And to become a good player, you must follow a routine.

슬롯사이트œA small request from him would be just to follow the routine diligently. And I sometimes get scolded if I miss them,슬롯사이트� he added.

Sameer is quite clear that being his son, Kounain has to work harder than the others. 슬롯사이트œHe does not and should not expect special treatment just because he is my son. In fact, I somewhat am a little stricter towards him. At the academy, he is like any other player. At home, he슬롯사이트™s my shining star.슬롯사이트� Khelo India Youth Games 2023: Inspired by Neeraj Chopra, Javelin Thrower Deepika Continues the Habit of Breaking Meet Records

Dr Habeeb Hasan, one of the academy coaches travelling with team to Chennai gives an outsider슬롯사이트™s account to the father-son bonhomie. 슬롯사이트œI would say Kounain has to work harder than the rest of the player just to prove his merit. Sameer makes him toil harder just to prove his fairness. He is a good player and is displaying the traits of his father.슬롯사이트�

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 27, 2024 03:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).