Hockey tournament returns to honour Nottingham attack victim Grace O'Malley-Kumar
Friends, family and players will come together at Nottingham Hockey Centre for a day of sport, fundraising and tribute
A hockey tournament is set to take place in Nottingham today (6 June) as a celebration of the life and legacy of a young hockey player, who was killed in the 2023 Nottingham attacks.
The event honours Grace O’Malley-Kumar, who represented England at U16 and U18 level and was widely regarded as a talented and influential presence on and off the pitch.
She died in June 2023 alongside fellow University of Nottingham student, Barnaby Webber and school caretaker Ian Coates, as a result of the horrific actions of triple killer Valdo Calocane.
Organised by the University of Nottingham Students’ Union, the memorial event will take place at the Nottingham Hockey Centre. Multiple teams are due to compete for the Grace O’Malley-Kumar Cup, with the tournament designed not only as a sporting competition but as a wider celebration of her life.
Grace’s younger brother, James, will be among those taking part, captaining a team in her honour.
Organisers say the day is intended to bring together teammates, friends, and members of the wider hockey community, reflecting the broad impact she had across the sport.
Speaking about Grace, one of her close friends and teammates, Katie Curtis, described her as one of the "kindest, most empathetic people you could ever hope to meet," recalling how supportive she was during their early days at university.
Family members are expected to attend on the day, including Grace’s parents and wider relatives.
According to Katie, their presence has made the event especially meaningful for those involved in organising it. She said that Grace’s family have described the tournament as bringing them a rare sense of happiness following their loss:
"The one thing that really gives me motivation to keep going is when Grace's parents told me it's one of the only days where they feel genuine happiness since she passed."
Speeches from friends and family will form a key part of the day, alongside medal presentations and the closing ceremony, ensuring the focus remains on remembrance as well as celebration.
Alongside the matches, there will be live music performances featuring some of Grace’s favourite songs, as well as a DJ set later in the evening. A raffle with prizes including signed sports shirts, holiday stays and concert tickets will also help raise funds for the foundation set up in Grace's memory.
Beyond this year’s event, organisers say they are committed to continuing the tournament in future years. The aim, they say, is to preserve Grace’s memory and long-lasting legacy.
Katie said:
"The whole reason we're doing this is to not let her memory fade. We will be doing this for years to come"