Nottingham attacks: Hockey tournament to honour Grace O'Malley-Kumar

A hockey tournament to commemorate the life of one of the victims of the Nottingham attacks is to take place.

Grace O'Malley-Kumar, who played for England Hockey's U16s and U18s, was killed along with two others last June.

Her younger brother James will be leading a team to pay tribute to the gifted 19-year-old, who excelled at sport.

The tournament, on 4 May at Nottingham Hockey Centre, aims to raise funds for the foundation set up in her memory.

The charity event, organised by the students' union (SU) at the University of Nottingham, where Ms O'Malley-Kumar was studying medicine, also aims to help raise money for the foundations of Barnaby Webber and Ian Coates.

Mr Webber, also 19 and a student at the same university, and school caretaker Mr Coates, 65, were also fatally stabbed in the early hours of 13 June.

Valdo Calocane, 32, admitted manslaughter and was given a hospital order after he was found to be suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attacks.

Before starting university in 2022, Ms O'Malley-Kumar played hockey for her local club, Old Loughtonians, in Chigwell, Essex, before moving to Southgate Hockey Club in north London.

She was selected to represent England in the U16s and U18s squads and became the top goal scorer during her first season.

At university, the student became a British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) gold champion in her first year and played in the premier league.

University teammate Katie Curtis said anyone on the team would describe Ms O'Malley-Kumar as "bubbly, welcoming, kind, compassionate, hilarious and thoughtful".

"It is precisely these characteristics that made her such an integral part of our team, fuelling us all with determination," she said.

On 4 May, six hockey teams will compete in the tournament to remember Ms O'Malley-Kumar and fundraise for the various charities, with the winning team lifting the Grace O'Malley-Kumar Cup.

The tournament will also have a band playing some of Ms O'Malley-Kumar's favourite songs, followed by speeches and a presentation of medals.

The Grace O'Malley-Kumar Foundation helps support people in their sporting and academic endeavours and promotes community service.

James set up the foundation in his sister's name to fund causes she supported and to "ensure she is never forgotten".

"For me as Grace's younger brother, I have always said that the least I can do is ensure Grace's legacy lives on," he said.

"All of us decided to organise a hockey tournament, bringing together all paths of Grace's career to have a day where we remember the amazing person she was."

He added that although planning the tournament had been "very difficult for myself and my parents", the family hoped "Grace lives on within us all through her favourite sport".

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.