Indian Express: Spark missing despite fireworks

Uthra G. Chaturvedi

For an event that completely lacked any kind of publicity, the crowds that turned up at the Sector 42 sports complex stadium on Wednesday must have been heartening for the organizers of the World Series Hockey.

These are still early days for the tournament and the Bollywood-heavy opening ceremony might have had something to do with the turnout, but the signs were positive.

As the private rebel league kicked off with performances from the stars of tinsel town pushing the schedule back by an hour, the stands were almost full —- or as full as it can get with large areas blocked by a massive stage set up for the pre-match show. Despite entry not being free, a substantial turnout would have given hope to the sponsors and broadcasters that the lack of Indian star power may still be overcome.

That lack of star power may well be restricted to the 18 who were part of the recent Olympic qualifiers. Players like Mandeep Antil and VS Vinaya, stand-bys during the qualifiers, have joined up with their respective WSH teams. And with several players deciding to remain with the league, Hockey India will have to come up with a rethink if it is to retain the entire pool of 48 for the Olympics.

What was a slight dampener was that former Pakistan captain and playmaker Waseem Ahmad along with Chandigarh captain Rehan Butt failed to make it in time for the opening game after missing their connecting flight to the venue. The two decided to make the trip to Chandigarh by road and are likely to join their respective teams by Thursday morning.

Players from Pakistan, especially Butt and Shakeel Abbasi (who has joined the Delhi team), are expected to be the biggest draw in the competition, given the absence of big-ticket Indian names. “We do not know what decision the PHF will take. But we do not regret our decision (to participate). We made a commitment to play in the WSH knowing everything and we are not backing out. Rest what happens in future, we can’t say,” Rehan said.

Former New Zealand centre half Casey Henwood, also spoke out in support of the league. Playing for Bhopal, Henwood thinks this was perhaps the best thing to happen to hockey. “Something like this should be replicated throughout the world. Why not? It’s a great concept, the atmosphere is great and hockey needs this. It’s a shame that certain players are not being able to play here but we can’t do anything about it,” he said.

Despite the fanfare and all the talk, the match, which saw Bhopal Badshahs beat Chandigarh Comets 4-3, did not live up to expectations of a fast, pacy game. However, it remains a fact that most of these players, whether Indian or foreign, are past their prime and either retired or on the verge of retirement. Like Ken Pereira, the Canadian captain who was recently in action at the Olympic qualifiers in New Delhi, or his team mate Sukhwinder Singh Gabbar.

But the organizers are confident of success.The fact that Sports Minister Ajay Maken gave his thumbs-up to the WSH, albeit in a recorded message would have come as a big relief for the organizers battling for recognition. “I congratulate the World Series Hockey and the Indian Hockey Federation for daring to dream and conducting such a grand hockey feast for the people of India and hockey players of the world. Sport needs sponsors and entertainment to become popular and it’s very heartening that the WSH is taking care of all these issues. As India’s Sports Minister it gives me great pride to announce that we are launching the first of its kind, a global league for the sport of hockey,” Maken said.

The organisers would have learnt a few lessons, though. The fact that the opening match started way beyond schedule and went on till late was a dampener midway through, but ringside entertainment was a key factor in involving the public. When the Premier Hockey League started in 2005, it too was hailed as the big revolution in the sport, before off-field tussles brought it to an abrupt end. It remains to be seen if the current version can sustain interest for the length of the tournament, especially in non-hockey centres, out of the Punjab heartland.