New Delhi, Jun 17 (IANS): Former Indian men's hockey team assistant coach Ramesh Parameswaran has applied for the Dronacharya award through Hockey Karnataka. Parameswaran, who was also part of the Indian team that won silver at the 1978 Asian Games in Bangkok, said that he had never intended to apply for the award initially.

It was Ashish Ballal, the former India goalkeeper who played for many years under Parameswaran, that first spoke to him about applying for it. "I never entered coaching with an idea of winning any award. It was just my passion and I am still in the game for that," the 70-year-old told IANS.

He then approached AB Subbiah, another former goalkeeper for the Indian team who played under Parameswaran. Subbiah is currently the Secretary-General of Hockey Karnataka.

"He has given a lot to Karnataka state and to Indian hockey in general. From our playing days I have seen that he has always been around and coaching the youngsters and even taking classes for coaches. So we thought that we should recommend his name," Subbiah told IANS.

Parameswaran's coaching career started in 1985 with Karnataka for the Senior National Championships. He became assistant coach of the Indian team in 1995 and served in that position till 2008.

"It has been great and all my students and friends said, why don't you apply. So I did," said Parameswaran.

"If you ask me personally, it is just to say thank you to my family. They have all sacrificed so much."

The Sports Ministry had earlier in the month extended the last date for submitting recommendations for the National Sports Awards to June 22. It also announced that candidates can nominate themselves for the awards.