S.K. Uthappa

Sannuvanda Kushalappa Uthappa is a professional field hockey player who was part of the Indian field hockey team which competed in the 2012 London Summer Olympic games. Equipped with a keen hockey brain and the ability to scythe through the toughest of defenses, Uthappa has left an indelible mark at every stage right from his school days to his stint with the Karnataka team at the National Championships in 2011. Inspired by his brothers, Uthappa took up playing Hockey at the age of 8. He still holds the Karnataka state record for scoring the highest no of goals (16) in 5 matches that he played for Coorg team at the age of 11 in the state level competition. He also guided the Coorg team to victory against the mighty Bangalore team ending the Bangalore team\'s 4 year winning streak. He joined Sports Authority of India, Bangalore to improve his performance and has since excelled as a player for both his college and University. Following his impressive show at the games, he was recruited to play for the state and soon found himself captaining the Karnataka team to victory Junior Nationals 2010. He was adjudged the best player in the 2011 Senior National championship in Bhopal. Uthappa made his international debut against South Africa on 16 January 2012 during the first match of the Karbonn Cup Hockey five-match test series. He was given a special award from Hockey India for scoring in his debut match. An all round player, he is slated as one destined to reach greater heights.