WSH set new global benchmarks for hockey

“A SPORTING property can claim success if it delivers on three basic sets of parameters: It offers a conduit for finding and rewarding the talent that exists in a sport, the quality of competition on display has to be world class, it brings new audiences into the game.” That was Indian Premier League CEO Sundar Raman explaining where his primary responsibility as the IPL organiser lay.

Do a critical review of the recently concluded World Series Hockey, the joint initiative between the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) and Nimbus Sport, and all the boxes will perforce be ticked in the affirmative. The reference to IPL is important because world cricket’s biggest annual jamboree was the first sports league to come out of India that had global ambitions in the way it was presented and delivered. The WSH represents Act II in India’s transition to a market that can deliver best in class in the sporting arena.

And with 31.136 million having tuned in (Tam Sports CS 4+ yrs, All India) to the tournament, WSH has clearly not only engaged die-hard hocky fans, but brought in new viewers to the sport. And this was the case in the stadia as well.

As Yannick Colaco, COO Nimbus Sport, pointed out to SportzPower in an accompanying interview, “Matches in Mumbai, Bhopal, Bengaluru and Pune were played to packed stadiums, with 3000 fans in the semi-final in Bangalore returning back from the stadium to watch at home as tickets were sold out.”

Vinit Karnik, national director – Entertainment, Sports & Live Events, GroupM ESP, who convinced his client Bridgestone to take up the title rights to the event, was equally effusive. “From a hockey point of view, it was a great beginning. It was a well mounted and executed league. Nimbus did a good job promoting the tournament.
Interview with Nimbus Sport Chief Operating Officer Yannick Colaco

“Bridgestone as a title sponsor is extremely happy with the way the tournament shaped up and will continue to back this initiative by IHF-Nimbus.”

In the end, the WSH’s success delivered a slap in the face not so much to Hockey India, whose every reaction to the intiative was only directed at trying to ensure that an event mounted by a rival claimant to suzerainty over Indian hockey was stillborn, but to the International Hockey Federation (FIH), which should have stayed neutral in regards to what by any yardstick was a positive development for world hockey.

It will be interesting to see the stance FIH takes when WSH has its second season, as it is not just Indian hockey that has been reinvigorated by the tournament, but the kind of money the international stars have made will no doubt have got players from all over the world talking. As Colaco pointed out, “It was disappointing that some of the national players could not participate in WSH despite having signed contracts with us. While all those who missed out this year have confirmed that they want to play next year, their participation in WSH 2 will depend solely on their performance, form and the “hockey” value that they bring to the event. Similarly, we have received requests from top international players from Germany, Australia, Netherlands and Spain who all want to be part of WSH 2. Whether we offer them contracts or not will be again depend on the same parameters.”

Kingshuk Gupta, director, Sporting Ace, and owners of the WSH franchise Karnataka Lions, is however, not quite so blasé about the matter. Gupta sees the non-participation of national hockey players and the problems between HI and WSH as the biggest challenges that will confront WSH 2. Said Gupta, “Non-participation of Indian national hockey players and the problems between HI and WSH remain the big worries.Hopefully, after the Olympics, Indian players will join WSH.”

Gupta says he thoroughly enjoyed his first experience as a franchise owner. “It was wonderful. As I used to travel with the team for their matches, experiencing winning moments, being part of the unit, was all a unique experience. I got to learn a lot of things from the tour.”

Sabbas Joseph, director Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd, the owners of the Delhi Wizards franchise made a more business oriented assessment: “It (WSH) was a very positive experience.The organizers and all others were committed, and wanted to promote the event. Excitement levels were high. As the series moved forward, there were viewership increased,and even the grounds were filled.”

Looking ahead to the next season, Gupta said, “Hopefully the Indian national hockey players will play for the coming series of WSH. The younger boys playing in WSH have shown potential and we have a lot of confidence in them. Hopefully they will continue with it in future and take hockey onto the next level.

“The crowds in Karnataka were great and very supportive. We hope the second edition will be even more successful.”

Joseph said he wanted the entertainment quotient of the event in the next edition to be upped a notch. Joseph averred, “We would try to bring more amount of entertainment, try to develop more interest and develop the talent at grass root level, which are really the sole motives for us as a corporate to be associated with the tournament.

When comparisons with IPL and cricket are thrown up, Gupta is quick to respond: “Cricket is a different game, no comparisons. I think there should be other games at second and third place like hockey and football which should be followed. Crowds are supportive. It’s just that the different sports communities should come back with something like WSH and IPL to build the particular sport.

WSH is very different and has given a new perspective to the way hockey is being played. It’s a great platform for the younger players to showcase their talent.

Added Joseph, “Audiences are experiencing a different sport and they are liking it.”

Asserts Colaco, “WSH 2 will be bigger, better and grander. Now that we’ve successfully established the platform, we will work tirelessly to accelerate the growth of the property and continue to set new global benchmarks for the sport of hockey.”