The whole thing started with a phone call with Punleuk, when he asked me if I would like to do a photo shoot with the U21 team and the staff. The team was in intensive preparation for the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025, and as it turned out, the photo shoot turned into a photo assignment in India after a conversation with Punleuk. We made the decision practically overnight and started the preparations, booking flights, visas, vaccinations, etc., because we didn’t have much time left.

For many years, we had accompanied and photographed countless field hockey trips (with HC RWW and the national teams) from South Africa to Belarus with our three daughters and son. But India was another “shoe number”. Fascinating on the one hand, but also fraught with reservations on the other. But even during the photo shoot, we took the team to our hearts and were looking forward to this adventure.

Photography is a hobby of mine, but nowadays videos are increasingly in demand. So I attended a one-day video course ;-). Now we were prepared for everything and we were ready to go.

When we arrived in Chennai, we felt like we were in a different world. Our worries about getting the many suitcases with the photo equipment safely to the hotel were quickly taken away from us according to the motto, let us (many Indians standing around us) do it and stand aside. We arrived a few days before the team and also stayed in the team hotel. We wanted to explore the city a bit more and, as always, tried to do so on foot. It was a bad idea, which we abandoned after a second attempt. The only suitable means of transportation are tuk-tuks or cabs.

On the subject of traffic, the most important requirements are a working horn, good brakes and the ability to swerve out of the way, as it is the driver in the back who is responsible for preventing a crash. We didn’t see any, although we were on the road a lot.

Of course, we also wanted to see the stadium and decided to take a tuk-tuk. When we got there, the driver said that he was waiting for us. Even our argument that it could take two hours didn’t stop him. Why? Waiting is an important part of his daily routine and a safe customer is in prospect. He became our private TukTuk driver, always waiting outside the hotel ;-).

We noticed intensive construction work at the stadium and wondered whether it would really be finished by the start. It was finished and how! Unbelievable or almost unimaginable, the effort that was put into it. Even on our first visit to the stadium, we met many helpful people. Outside the stadium, however, on our excursions, always with a guide, we saw the incredible poverty and misery in a city of 10 million people. I didn’t take any photos here, although back in Switzerland I would like to hold them up to one or two people and ask them what worries we are dealing with…!

When it came to food, we followed all the good advice from Switzerland, never had any problems and enjoyed fantastic food on our trip. For us, it wasn’t quite spicy enough (unlike the team) and the prices can’t be compared. Especially in the team hotel, we experienced staff who were mostly very courteous and helpful. They quickly got to know us and we always received a very warm welcome. It was always a pleasure for us to see how the team was received and how they were pampered.

The first game came closer. Admittedly, we were getting nervous too. A top staff accompanied and guided the team with great care and professionalism to the important starting game. A unit had been formed.

What we then experienced in the stadium was simply fantastic. Luckily, after hours of persistent negotiating and waiting the day before, Monika and I had already received our accreditation, which had been guaranteed by the FIH, so we were able to get through all the police checks onto the pitch and do our work. There were also clear hierarchies among the photographers and I tended to be in the second row. However, the photographic technology I had at my disposal allowed me to overcome this hurdle too. But basically, we also got to know a lot of lovely people here who were always helpful and very happy to be photographed. In terms of field hockey, Chennai and Madurai were simply fantastic for us and we suffered and cheered along with the team and the staff. Neither the rain nor the mosquitoes could stop us or take away our joy.

From our point of view, SwissHockey has initiated a promising further development on a very good basis that was established earlier. The uniform appearance of the national team, Punleuk with his networking work, e.g. Swiss-Evening, presence in the press, top staff and new ideas all contributed to this.

The fans and parents who travel with the team are enormously important for the team, as we know from our own experience. There’s so much more to tell, but ….. so my tip is to come along next time and experience it for yourself, it’s incredible fun.

Guys & staff, thank you very much for the great experience that you made possible for us with your commitment. We have made a note of the next dates to be on the safe side.

Best regards, Fredi & Monika Wälti, Wettingen