Everything seems to be static in field hockey. The list of semifinalists at Athens prove that. Three Europeans — Spain, Germany and Holland — are happily joined by Australia in the semis. Australia also plays power hockey like the European trio does.
Since (West) Germany dethroned Pakistan in 1972 finals — till then the Asians won all the Olympic Golds among themselves — this has been the global trend. When I started my journalistic career in the late 50s, we got bored with the Asian hegemony. Now the reverse. Like in 1992 Barcelona Olympics, it’s again Euro-Oceania domination in the medal rounds.
There are many continental champions here, South Korea (Asia), Egypt (Africa) and Argentina (North and South Americas). Yet none of them are in the medal hunt. Those who run the hockey affairs in these continents should ponder over the question. What do we lack behind while just one continent takes lion’s share of medals?
I think it is something to do with the quantity, I mean numbers. For instance, the European Championship. About 40 countries participate in the hunt for European title. A two-tier competition is held to prune the minnows. The qualifiers were held in four countries. There is so much enthusiasm to win the title that for the last edition, Germany fielded senior team in the European Championship while sending second string team to the Champions Trophy! Fittingly, the finalists of the latest European Championship, Germany and Spain, are in the semis at Athens and if my prediction goes correct, they will figure in the finals too. Shortly, the European Championship will be held once in two years as against once in four years so far.
On the other hand, the African Champion Egypt turned out to be the whipping team here. They have lost all the six matches, including 11-0 drubbing by Korea. The world body FIH did not allow the hosts Greece for hockey event as they thought it will provide a week link. Egypt’s performance stares IFH on its face.
Pakistan and India, the Asia Cup finalists, are fighting for crumbs (5-8th place). Even a week Great Britain could maul American continental champion Argentina, 4-1 on Wednesday. My point therefore is that these continents should understand the quality comes from quantity. Sooner they wake up better for the game. It pains me to observe hardly six countries take part in the Asia Cup or Asian Games.
Frankly speaking, the brand of hockey that is winning nowadays is not a spectator hockey. It’s just brute force and systematization. Where are the grace, artistry and class? Asians, India and Pakistan, have enough of them. They also tend to slowly lose these traits for which they were once known for. The modern day players from these regions naturally force to think why to practice something that won’t yield medals. They flock to Europe for Club assignments.
This is a dilemma. Therefore there is a reluctance to learn the winning formula. At a drop of hat every Indian player goes hammer and tongs against the German coach training them. Pakistanis, though lost the semis with just one bad game (Spain drubbed 0-4), did not crib like the Indians yet the fact of the matter is they too have dissident voices and disapproval from within.
It’s time either they follow their own style or totally adopt the Europeans. The midway is dangerous. And, unfortunately, that is where the Asians, especially, the Indians are.