Thud! The ball bounces off inches from us on the parapet. A sweaty youngster comes bounding in pursuit. “Sorry!” he calls out as he kicks the ball to the keeper — the goalpost is marked by a pair of slippers dug into the sand. We are treated to a heated football match on a breezy Sunday evening at the beach. In fact, there are several matches playing out side-by-side — a couple of middle-aged men are engaged in a game of tennikoit, while a kabaddi match is in progress on a volleyball ground some distance away; two other football matches are on at consecutive stretches on the sand. Their goalposts inches from each other’s, players often run into another team’s territory.
Welcome to Palavakkam Beach, which is the cosy stretch of sand between Thiruvanmiyur and Neelankarai, a haven for beach games. The beach resembles a playground on weekends, especially during evenings. Boys, including youngsters who work in IT companies, from places across the ECR, descend on Palavakkam to play. Apart from a volleyball court, the beach also includes four cricket pitches on the ground overlooking the seafront.
The regulars come to play on weekdays too. S. Gowshic and friends have been playing football and cricket here for over three years. There’s something about the beach that draws them. “It’s a small beach, so we can play without any disturbance,” he says. “Thiruvanmiyur beach is crowded and Neelankarai beach is not suitable to play, whereas Palavakkam is ideal,” he says. The promenade is separated from residential areas by sprawling grounds. “This is an added advantage,” notes Gowshic. Palavakkam beach and the surrounding areas are known to be sport-friendly.
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It’s 5 p.m. on a Tuesday evening, and his team plays barefoot, kicking up sand in the receding light. A boat bobs in the sea, far beyond and a cotton-candy seller’s brass bell calls out to customers; the players’ shouts and the muffled crunch of their feet against the sand merge with the mundane sounds of the beach. “Our stamina improves when we play on the sand,” says Gowshic. They expel more energy than they would otherwise have, had they played on a level field.
Rohit and Buvanesh explain that the cricket pitches, built by local boys who pooled in money, are open for all. “Anyone can play in the pitches, whereas in many other places, it’s the area pasanga who dominate. They won’t let outsiders play in their locality,” adds Rohit. “Also, people from nearby areas who come to the beach, do not object to us playing,” says Mujubur. “There have been instances when they’ve joined us in the game,” he smiles.
As with any public playground, there are competitions associated with securing a good spot to play among the various groups. “We come by 4.30 p.m. to catch a good spot,” explains Gowshic. Teams sometimes share their players; anyone can join them in a game or two and friendships are formed by the seaside. “We never run short of players; those from teams playing close-by are always open to joining us,” he adds.
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On an average Sunday morning, around 500 to 1,000 kids come to play in the grounds by the beach, according to D. Vishwanathan, the councillor of Ward 185 of which Palavakkam is a part of. “The beach is unique,” he says. “It’s not suffocated by restaurants and buildings. Wide, open grounds that surround it, render it beautiful.” Vishwanathan has extended roads by the beach to ensure that people can play without disturbing the public and is also trying to get the Corporation to develop it. “I’ve been asking them to lay footpaths and place chairs and benches along the stretch,” he says. “I’m also asking the Corporation to employ a beach-cleaning machine as used in Marina to clear the sand of glass shards that might harm children who come to play.” He is doing his bit for the beach by offering drinking water in bubble tops from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. every day, for walkers.
The area is also known for the cricket tournaments held by local boys. Apart from cricket, kabaddi, football and volleyball, the sands of Palavakkam Beach also host gymnastic trainers. After a tiring game, players sometimes lounge by the beach till 8 p.m. “Here, there are no boundaries, no rules. Then there’s the wind,” grins Manikandan. “That’s the best thing about playing in the beach.”