K. ARUMUGAM

Governance issues dominated the first two World Cups that India hosted while the third one at Bhubaneswar was a smooth affair. However, the common thread of all the three (1981-82, 2010 & 2018) was the unmistakable failure of Indian team — falling short of expectations. Indian hockey’s present low public profile has many things to do with these home failures.

Olympic champions India finished fifth in Mumbai, eighth in Delhi and sixth in Bhubaneswar.

When India hosted the 1981-82 edition, it marked a huge relief to the international governing body, the FIH, as it preceded n-number issues. Suffice to say that India was originally allotted the 1975 edition but due to a regime change in the Bombay Hockey Association, led to the FIH shifting it to Kuala Lumpur in a rescue act.

Akashdeep Singh scoring in the 2018 World Cup against the Netherlands in the QF

The conditions before 2010 was still severe. The ruling echelons of the sports, headed by KPS Gill, was not even remotely interested to host, actually it did not even send a proposal, not to say bidding. The World Cup was, according to the dispensation, was thrust upon India. In fact, the FIH came out with an India Project during the 2006 World Cup at Monchengladbach by which the country will be allotted a major FIH event each year to improve the fortunes of the game, which it considered a vital aspect to uplift the sports’ global image.

A player let revolt in the Pune camp hogged the national wide attraction, that was the only World Cup build up! Interestingly, media was allowed to enter the venue the revampled Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium only 72 hours before the first match!

Thankfully for the Els Van Breda Vriesman led FIH, India was allotted the Commonwealth Games the same year. Government of India was willing to spend a fortune to host the World Cup as a preparation for the CWG. the National stadium was re-modelled. For the first time, the World Cup was declared an FIH event, — not the host’s — and it went sponsorship spree, getting Sahara, Steel Authority of India, notably Hero Honda (nowadays Hero MotoCorp) on board. The World Cup turned out to be an asset, a huge money spinner. By the time, the FIH regime too changed hands from Vriesman to another European in Leondro Negri.

Odisha hosts the second successive World Cup in 2023

in total contrast to tumultuous run up of 2010, the next one 2018 was smooth, as Batra has not only smoothened all his rivals in the country but also went beyond, becoming the first Asian to chair the FIH.

The new FIH President could rope in Govt. of Odisha to sponsor the 2018 event. The legacy lives on now.  The build up then was great, the hosting was greater in all respects. Two opening ceremonies, one in Cuttack the other in BBSR with good media coverage — not to forget wall paintings of the whole city — helped the event attract good traction with public. However, India could not proceed beyond the quarterfinal, where it lost narrowly to The Netherlands.

Whatever the background, whatever the windfalls both the hosts and the FIH has cornered, despite the rising fans base, the shine as India as host of the world cups was lost as its teams failed to deliver.

Jose Brasa was the chief coach in 2010. India’s own Harendra Singh in 2018. Olympic medallist Harmik Singh was at the coaching helm in 1981-82. Be it on grass, as was the case in 1981-82 or the turf for the remaining editions, India’s failure on the ground is baffling.

India topped the pool at Bhubaneswar and thus avoided the cross over, a feature in the new format. However, Manpreet Singh’s team failed to cross the QF hurdle. Coming against its semifinal defeat at the Asian Games held three months prior to the World Cup, the Bhubaneswar debacle sent the profile tumbling.

1975 World Cup team celebrating, still the lone victory

The 2010 was still worse. Brasa’s team just won a match! It was the opener against Pakistan (4-1) and then it was not in the form, just flattered to deceive.

in 1981-82, India needed a win to enter the semifinal, but lost to Australia (1-2) and thus got eliminated from the knock out.

Simple stat

1981-82
Played: 7
won: 5
drawn; 0
Lost; 2
Goals For: 29
Goals Against: 15
Position: 5th

2010:
Played: 6
won: 1
drawn: 1
Lost: 4
Goals For: 15
Goals Against: 21
Position: 8th

2018
Played: 4
won: 2
drawn: 1
Lost: 1
Goals For: 13
Goals Against: 5
Position: 6th