No spectators, but tickets sold!

Prabhjot Singh writes from New Delhi

While hardcore hockey spectators struggle to get tickets from the publicised ticket counters of a nationalised bank, a chain of coffee shops and a few other centres, there appears to be a free flow of tickets inside the historic Major Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium. Some influential members of the Indian Olympic Association as well as Hockey India have been making a frantic effort to win back those who felt slighted by their earlier total “indifferent attitude”.

Intriguingly, a fairly large number of Olympians and internationals, including some national awardees, can be seen watching the games from the 100-rupee stands. Some of these players, including former national coach Sukhvir Grewal, and several national stars, including Syed Ali, Jagdeep Singh Gill, Arvind Chhabra and Aslam Sher Khan, preferred not to run after those in control of either the IOA or Hockey India for invites to watch matches. Instead they bought tickets of Rs 100 each. Even some of the great friends of Indian hockey overseas are provided tickets by Sukhvir Grewal and group.

Sukhvir Grewal and Director of Punjab Sports Department have brought a group of their young trainees and some coaches to watch the World Cup games.

They have been provided accommodation at a nearby place of worship. Grewal is also organising for these youngsters and coaches one-day interaction with former national coach of both the US and Canada, Shiv Jagday, so that they can understand minute intricacies, strategies and game plans of different teams playing here. Jagday, who comes from Ludhiana, is now Consultant to Field Hockey Canada.

Joginder Singh, doctor from Germany, who has been voluntarily accompanying Indian hockey team on its overseas assignments for more than three decades, had finally got his due. He and his family got special invite from the organisers of the World Cup thanks to the IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh.

On Monday when the nation was celebrating Holi, New Zealand and Canada, only teams to have Indian expatriates, played the first game. While New Zealand has Priyesh Bhana, who scored the first goal for his team, and Arun Panchia, in its team, Canada has Ranjeev Deol and Sukhwinder Singh Gabbar. The coach of the Canadian team, Shiaz Virjee, is also of Indian origin. Incidentally, one of the umpires for this game was Chandigarh’s Satinder Sharma who in the last World Cup Qualifying Tournament got the golden whistle. Also on the Judges Table for this game was Indian Moghul Mohamed Muneer. Only other person of Indian origin playing for team other than India is Balwanth Shanyl of South Africa.