Activity Buzz: Four Indian teams on foreign soils at the same time

As a mark of Indian hockey becoming vibrant and dynamic, four Indian teams are in action across three nations spreading in two continents. While Men’s national team is in Kuantan, crushing all rivals their distaff side is just 200 kms away in Singapore. India has fielded possible best teams in the respective men and women Asian Champions Trophy.

Men and women colts are on the other hand flew far away to Europe. Both are playing an invitational tournament.

India has also deputed umpires and officials for all the four teams, helping the organizers to conduct the events on level playing field.

Not long ago, say two decades ago, even getting a tour done has been a task for hockey administrators. Govt used to clear teams in the last minute, leading to late arrival to event venue city or cancellation of participation.

Things have changed now for better.

Since Commonwealth Games 2010, governments have also considerably increased the budgetary provisions for competitions and preparation, team sport hockey seemed to have grabbed the chances with both hands.
As India is hosting the Junior World Cup, Junior boys are on tour continuously. In the last three months they had been to England, Australia and now in Valencia (Spain).

Senior men, who did not show much interest in the Asian Champions Trophy, took this year edition seriously. The full team is here, and its results are showing. When India sent a second string, it lost to China in the last edition, while its whitewash (9-0) here in Kuantan.

Post Rio, the senior men’s team did not relax. A win in Kuantan will boost the morale of Indian public who pinned enourmous hopes on Rio, but were disappointed thought it’s a fact that the team showed tremendous improvement irrespective of what the scoreboard had showed.

Indian senior women, always a complex cauldron albeit silently, had all the benefits of merger of men and women federation, getting more exposure than before but did not show improvement, even to the last decade levels, due to perhaps lack of competent coach.

Everyday therefore Indian hockey fans have a match to know, at times three match taking place on same day.
The men’s Kuantan tournament is being telecast Live by Star Sports 4 channel in India.