At 25, Indian Army goalkeeper Senthamizh Arasu has not given up on his dream of playing for the senior Indian hockey team. The native of Arcot town in Vellore, who won bronze with the Junior India team at the 2017 Sultan of Johor Cup, is still waiting for an opportunity to prove himself at the highest level.

“I keep playing, trying to give my best at all National-level tournaments. I’m waiting, working hard and practising every day,” he said on the sidelines of the 97th All-India MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament here on Friday.

“I am ready for the opportunity whenever it comes. Even an opportunity for the National team trials would do. I’m only 25, I still have a lot to do.”

Arasu, whose heroics in the penalty shootout against Karnataka helped Tamil Nadu win bronze at the 2023 senior Nationals, said he learnt a great deal from former Ireland goalkeeper David Harte at the Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons camp in HIL.

“I have watched David Harte since childhood, and learnt a lot from him in HIL. He taught me about quick reactions and, more importantly, the mindset. When we concede a goal, we sometimes dwell on it. He taught me that the team keeps playing and we must be ready for the next ball,” he said.

A regular at the Murugappa tournament, Arasu is determined to overcome a familiar stumbling block.

“We have lost in the semifinals for three consecutive years. This is my fourth season, and we will see what happens this time. We are ready,” he said, hoping the tournament would bring him closer to his long-cherished India dream.

Two persons, including an 11-year-old girl, were killed in separate accidents on Chennai – Bengaluru Highway (NH-48) near Arcot town in Ranipet on Sunday.

Police said the deceased were identified as V. Harish, 27, a native of Krishnagiri, and E. Jersey, 11, a resident of Chennai. Initial inquiry revealed that the omni-bus from Chennai was proceeding towards Bengaluru with 22 passengers when the bus driver, Mohammed Sherif, 28, a native of Chennai, suddenly lost control of the vehicle and hit a trailer lorry, which was going ahead of the bus on the stretch. The incident occurred around 3.30 a.m.

The lorry had a consignment of long concrete poles to deliver at a godown in Hosur town in Krishnagiri from Kancheepuram. As the bus driver tried to take the service lane from the carriageway behind the lorry, he lost control of the bus and rammed into the lorry. In the impact, Harish was killed and 18 others including six women passengers and two children were injured.

Immediately, passersby and other motorists rescued the injured persons, who were admitted at Government Taluk Hospital in Arcot town. A case was registered by Arcot Town police.

In the second accident, along with his wife Mary, 39, and daughter Jersey, 11, a businessman Edin, 45, was driving his car from Bengaluru to Chennai when he lost control of the vehicle at Ammananthangal village near Walajah town in Ranipet on the stretch and hit a jeep, which was ahead of the car. The incident happened around 8.30 a.m. Injured persons were rescued and sent to a private hospital where doctors said that Jersey was brought dead. A case was registered by Walajah police.