Ravi Dhaliwal

The scarcity of quality players emerging from the plains of South West Punjab is being attributed to lack of astro turfs in the districts of Muktsar, Faridkot, Bathinda and Ferozepur.

There is just one astroturf at Badal village in this district-to cater to four districts and that too is not being utilised to optimum level. Hockey lovers have assembled under various forums and platforms on numerous occasions to demand an astro turf from either the Sports Authority of India (SAI) or the Punjab government. Laments S.S Mann, Secretary of the Muktsar District Hockey Association (MDHA) and a former International player,“We have enough talent in all these four districts. But the problem is boys grow up playing on grass where they have to bend their bodies to control the ball.

However, when they graduate to the astro turf, they loose their way because on astro turf you have to keep your body erect. This problem can be rectified only if the youngsters start playing on turf from the very beginning.” A SAI official disclosed that the decision to lay astro turfs by government agencies smack of impartiality.

Said Rozy Barcandi, Patron of the MDHA “ The Union Sports Minister M.S Gill inaugurated two newly laid astro turfs at the NIS in Patiala in February this year. However, after that, not even a single training session, leave alone a competitive match has been played on the surface and this despite that fact that nearly six months have elapsed ever since Gill pushed the ball into the netting to symbolically inaugurate the turfs.”

It is pertinent to mention here that the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), citing a technicality, has not handed over either of the turfs to the NIS till yet.

Two turfs at Patiala and both lying in a state of disuse has further infuriated hockey lovers of the region. “ Patiala has two turfs, just give Muktsar one undersized turf meant for six a side hockey and see what wonders we do. This year half a dozen of our boys have been selected by the Centre of Excellence, a SAI run scheme at Patiala.

These boys are following in the footsteps of players of the calibre of India captain Sandeep Singh, Deepak Thakur and Prabhjot Singh, all products of the Centre of Excellence,” said the MDHA patron.

Admits senior SAI hockey coach I.S Gill, who is in charge of the Centre of Excellence “We get good material from the districts of Muktsar, Faridkot, Bathinda and even Ferozepur, where hockey has picked up ever since Gagan Ajit Singh made waves in the international arena. All these four districts deserve at least one turf each.”

However, till an astro turf actually comes up at Muktsar or its adjoining districts, boys will continue to start their careers on grass and later fizzle out on grass itself.