M. P. Ganesh


Mollera Poovaiah Ganesh is a former Indian professional field hockey player and coach. He was also the captain and coach of the Indian team. He was awarded the Arjuna Award in 1973 and Padma Shri in 2020.
He was the head coach of the India hockey team at the 1990 Hockey World Cup.

Personal life

Ganesh was born on 8 July 1946 in the Kodagu district in Karnataka. He switched over to hockey when he joined the Indian Army and played in the hockey tournaments from 1966–1973. Ganesh has completed MA in English, Diploma in Sports Coaching from the National Institute of Sports, Patiala and Ph.D in Physical education. Ganesh has 5 siblings of which 2 brothers, M P Subbaiah and M P Kaveriappa have achieved great laurels in both Football and Hockey at All India and national levels.

Awards