Normally if a city is to host a mega multi-discipline sporting event, it is expected to burstle with activities. This is what we thought Delhi, the host of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, will be. However, things are not going the way we would have like to. In fact, it has virtually brought hockey to standstill in the capital. With National Stadium and Shivaji Stadium both under major renovation, there is no turf ground available in the capital to conduct, say, any All India level Tournament.

As a result Nehru Hockey Society had to shift its junior Girls Hockey Tournament to Shahbad and other age group tournaments and 45th Nehru Hockey Tournament to Nehru Stadium, Gurgaon. Even Lal Bahadur Shastri Hockey Tournament which follows the completion of Jawahar Lal Nehru Tournament is being played at Nehru Stadium, Gurgaon. All India Maharaja Ranjit Singh Hockey Tournament which is generally conducted in the month of February will also face a dilemma.

This shifting of venue, as circumstances compelled, has proved both productive as well as counter-productive. Shifting of the girls tournament though administratively cumbersome, helped to further popularize and create interest in hockey at Shahbad, though the Shahbad girls have already earned a name for themselves with their superlative performance from time to time. The playing conditions at Shahbad were also good.

But same has not been the case with the make-shift Gurgaon. Though there is a proper stadium with an astroturf; but it is not in good condition, the spectator response during Nehru Hockey tournament was poor. Although almost all the leading teams of the country were taking part with fair representation of Olympians and International players and adequate publicity was given, it was strange to see near empty stands.

Players need crowd and their vociferous support to lift their game to another level. Due lack of crowd support standard of hockey also did not rise to any dizzy heights.

Was there any way out to help the Delhi’s starved spectators? May be. Was it possible to space out the work on the two Stadiums or the two astroturfs at the National Stadium? Availability of one astroturf would have sorted out the woes of hockey in the capital. This suggestion may be viable from users point of view but the Departments made responsible for completing the work in time may think otherwise.

Another positive way to look at the impasse is that post Commonwealth Games the capital will have best of infrastructure and astroturfs where the hockey loving public of Delhi will be able to watch and enjoy the best of hockey for times to come.

Hopefully renovated stadiums will rejunuvate sport in Delhi.