HIL:4800 out of 5500 tickets sold out in Ranchi
Our Reporter takes a stroll in Ranchi — where HIL action picks up today– and has filed his first impression report which deals everything we all would like to know in the context of the hockey hub hosting first ever league match – Editor.
Situated right next to the Jharkhand’s political bigwig Shibu Soren’s house, is the ‘Astroturf Hockey Stadium’ of Ranchi, which is all set to host its inaugural HIL match today. The reason I mentioned Mr. Soren’s name in the first line is, because the day s2h team landed in Ranchi, its state government was dissolved and President Rule has been established here.
And that’s not the only point of concern for everybody. Ranchi is the home-town of India’s Cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and the Birsa Munda Cricket Stadium is all set to host its first international tie on Saturday where host team will play England. So all the local news-papers and TV channels are only talking about cricket.
So where is the hockey?
Nothing to worry. Ranchi people love their cricket hero, but they still have a strong connection with their national team. This part of India, like Jalandhar, Coorg and Orissa, is another hub of hockey. If media is talking about cricket, it’s the public that is talking about hockey.
Today morning I went for walk and I heard many groups of people talking about an HIL match happening this evening. Of course, they might not know much about Moritz Fuerste, Ashley Jackson and Floris Evers, but they do love their sports, and that is more important.
When I reached the stadium, local BJP leaders were holding a protest rally, thankfully not against the HIL match.
The first thing that actually surprised me was the level of promotion at the local level. From the airport to our hotel, I witnessed at least two dozen mega-sized posters of HIL showing their local and international stars with the team motto: “Nas Nas mein Hockey”. And it was visible from the sole ticket counter, established temporarily outside the stadium.
Very curiously, I checked from the ticket-seller about the sale of tickets. “Sir, out of 5500, we have already sold almost 4800, and rest of them will be sold in a few hours,” he replied with proud.
So needless to say, the Astroturf Hockey Stadium will witness the full-house in its inaugural match.
But hang on, what’s up with the name. Of course there is a beautiful astro-turf laid in the stadium, but you do not hear a ‘Grass stadium’ if the stadium lacks a turf!! An official, who didn’t want to be named (I don’t know why) told that the earlier stadium didn’t have a turf, so when turf was introduced, it was popularly called as ‘Astro-turf wala stadium’ and hence it got its name. Interesting!!
As I moved in, the local team was practicing with their coaches Gregg Clarke and Baljeet Singh Saini. They were mainly doing penalty-corner drills. Ashely Jackson will be the man to watch tonight.
It’s a small yet beautiful stadium. It gives you a local feel somehow, which looks beautiful. The local team’s branding inside the stadium is done very nicely. The whole stadium looks to be painted in red, which is the background colour Ranchi Rhinos’ team logo. A powerful DJ system was showing its effect. But sadly, it was playing Michael Jackson, and not ‘Kamariya Hile la’, perhaps to boost foreign players’ morale.
A small stage is set in a corner and a few guys were checking the disco-lights. I asked an official about it, and got the BREAKING NEWS- Mandira Bedi will be here tonight before the match.
A known dancer, who was of course not named, will also perform. Local officials told me that they had invited their Chief Minister (or dare I say former CM) Mr. Arjun Munda and the deputy CMs- Sudesh Mehto and Hement Soren for the match, but because of the political uncertainty, they might not come.
Whether they attend the match or not, it is expected to be a cracker of a game. The visitors Mumbai Magicians had lost the hosts Delhi before, and Ranchi Rhinos have reached here after beating the hosts Punjab Warriors. S2H team will have a very close eye on all the HIL matches, because “Ab baatein kam, Hockey zyada”!!