Bhopal Nationals to start on July 4th

Government of Madhya Pradesh, which did so much to promote hockey – revival of Obaidullah Cup, regular purses to men and women hockey players – has come once again to rescue hockey.

Sports and Youth Service arm of the MP government will organize the much delayed National Championship in Bhopal from 4th to 18th July.

On the day the Indian Hockey Federation organized a sitting last week, the State government approached them for approval, and got it as well.

Which actually means, once again, as Andhara Pradesh did in 2005, a State government comes to the rescue of hockey.

Both Hockey India and Indian Hockey federation have not organized Nationals, which is almost a sin, when they were in power.

Now, the Nationals will be held from July 4th to 18th in Bhopal. It’s a good news for the domestic hockey which is otherwise rotting.

It is learnt that the IHF has sent letters to all State Hockey Associations (as they existed in early 2008) inviting teams for the Nationals, and also to Associate members.

If the mood of the State Hockey Associations, who have been traumatized and rattled by the arm-twisting of Hockey India in the last two years, is any indications, most of them are likely to send their teams to Bhopal. Interestingly, Sports Authority of India, which is an associate member of the IHF – which enables them to put their team in the Nationals – is willing to participate.

History shows the fact that the faction that holds the Nationals first has always won the IHF chair ultimately.

When Sahni and MAM Ramasamy factional feud was at its worst in the mid-70, Pune, then known as Poona, successfully organized the Nationals. This has ultimately led to MAM Ramasamy winning the battle for the IHF top post.

Therefore, it’s a godsend for the pauper pack called Indian Hockey Federation, which got a booster dose from the court, to grab the limelight though it won’t be spending a pie.

Our stand on the issue is consistent. Its same as that of our view for the recent world cup. Who organizes is not important than the event hot held at all.

Hockey India will surely try to stall the Bhopal Nationals, it will also sulk. The best way for them now is to organize another Nationals instead of trying to play spoil sport.

If Hockey India is interested in hockey, it should forthwith organize another National or League. We would thus have an opportunity to witness two Nationals in a year. So many strange things have happened in the last couple of years, why not another strange thing, two Nationals.

In 2005, a state has sent two teams, representing each faction. The then IHF allowed both teams to play. It was considered a good decision against disallowing both, after all more players got to play.

We are not bothered who organizes the Nationals – IHF or HI. As long as opportunity is created for the players to play on the ground, our support is for everyone who would do it.

The move of the Madhya Pradesh government to organize the long over due Nationals is also a slap on the face of Hockey India, which gave permission to organize a women tournament in Bhopal recently, and then backstabbed them by not allowing the national team members – who were ironically in a camp in the same city — to take part.

Of all the persons, Narinder Batra knows one thing – the significance of Nationals. It’s his hometown edition in 2000 that sowed the seeds of what he is today. Before 2000 we never knew him.

Therefore it is advisable for Batra not to stall the National now. Instead, as a return favour to the event that catapulted him to national politics, organize his own the the time he wants now, December.

Meanwhile, the playing community must welcome Bhopal. MP Government is an excellent host. This I saw for myself during the last Obaidullah Cup.