A festival hockey match between former Olympian / Internationals & M.P. Former Olympian & International Players was held at Bhopal on 10th June, 2008. The match was Organized for upliftment and Development to salvage the lost pride of the Indian hockey.
The match was followed by a meeting of former Olympians & hockey Internationals at hotel Palash on 11th June, 2008 The meeting was convened by the Sports & Youth Welfare Department.
The following Olympians and International hockey players were present on the occasion.
1 Shri Ajit Pal Singh Padmashree Awardee, former Olympian and Captain of the world cup winning Indian Hockey Team .
2 M. Kindo Arjuna Awardee, and Former Olympian
3 Charles Carlaneus Dhyanchand Awardee & Former Olympian
4 Shri Ashok Dhyanchand Arjuna Awardee , Former Olympian & member of the world cup winning Indian Hockey Team
5 Aslam Sher Khan Former Olympian and Chairman Indian Hockey Team Selection committee
6 Shri Dhanraj Pillai Former Olympian and Rajeev Gandhi Khel Ratna Awardee
7 Shri Dilip Tirkey Padmashree Awardee and Olympian
8 Shri Mukesh kumar Padmashree Awardee and Former Olympian
9 Shri Zafar Iqbal Arjuna awardee and Former Olympian
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10 Shri Mervin fernandes Arjuna awardee and Former Olympian
11 Shri Jagbeer Singh Arjuna awardee and Former Olympian
12 Shri A.B. Subbaiah Arjuna awardee and Former Olympian
13 Shri Mehboob khan Former Olympian
14 Shri Jalaluddin Rizvi Arjuna awardee and Former Olympian
15 Shri Sameer Dad Former Olympian
16 Shri Mir Ranjan Negi Former International
17 Shri Arvind Chavada Former International
18 Shri Abdul Aziz Former International
19 Shri Harinder Singh Former International
20 Shri Mayur Pandey National Player
21 Shri Altaf ur rahman Former International
Shri Ajitpal Singh said that it is for the first time that only hockey players are being invited in the selection committee. Chairman & all the members are former Olympic players. The entire nation is looking forward to us and are hopeful as well . Now it is our endeavor to from a format so as to Salvage our lost pride in hockey.
Ashok Dhyanchand said that Olympians are representing the Indian Hockey Olympic committee selection penal, the Selection committee is only a name, the fact being the actual representatives are the former players. We five selectors may possibly may miss certain points, the rest of the players will make a work plan and format so that work could be started at the earliest.
The following suggestion are made by the members
1- Charles Carnalius Other than senior teams, one selection panel be formed for sub-junior and Junior levels. At least two members from the Senior Selection panel should be present during the selection process as well as during matches; these two senior members can have Sub Committee members for their help. In the sub committee former Internationals and local players could be included. There must be transparency in the selection process. Former Olympians and former internationals should be empowered to send outstanding player for selection camp and for Coaching Camps.
Coaches panel be formed and promotion should be given based on performance. The above panel will select coaches to Impart coaching to Junior Indian team U-18 and U-21 Junior and senior Indian team e.g. if the Sub Junior team coaches performs well, he should be promoted as a coach for Junior Team.
In all the major Tournament/Championships, the selection committee member must conduct talent search Programs throughout the year.
2- Shri Dilip Tirkey : Tournament/camps should be organized in tribal belts and backward areas, where no tournaments are being organized, talent Search should be conducted so as to make this game more popular, Former Olympians and International player’s help should also be taken.
Indian team should have a ‘ B ‘ Team; if some one from the B team makes to the senior team he should be perfect enough.
It has been notice that The State hockey Association are not conducting local league tournament. The Ad hoc committee should instruct the State Unit to conduct league tournaments, failing which an Ad hoc State committee should be formed to conduct league matches, they should be asked to conduct more competitions to promote the game of hockey.
Shri Mir Ranjan Negi : National, International and Test matches calendar should be prepared. In between these tournaments some matches should be organized, for the benefit of the former Olympians and International hockey stalwarts.
During the tournaments celebrities should be invited to cheer up the players and they be involved so as to promote the game.
Shri Arvind Chavda : IHF Ad hoc committee should appoint a spokesman to give a statement on behalf of the players and the team. The message should be clear pertaining players, objective and aim.
He also stated that Mode of coaching should be upgraded.
Shri Jalaluddin Rizwi : Sponsors should be identified by forming a committee and thereafter sponsors list should be prepared.
Selectors should remain all through the selection process. Former players should be included in the process instead of coaches. Selections be should done only by the selection committee and not by the coaches.
Shri Mayur Pandey : During the selection camp, track record of all the players should be kept. As per the stipulated Parameters players selections be made and moreover a player should be informed as to why he is got selected or ignored. This will make the selection process very transparent.
An Infrastructure committee should be formed, this committee will proposed and suggest pertaining construction of stadium and turf laying.
Shri Michael Kindo : In every hockey test matches and International matches, a charity match should be arranged for the welfare and financial aid to former internationals and Olympians.
Marketing programs should be set for Indian hockey.
Shri Harinder Singh : Marketing committee should be formed for Indian hockey federation and in all the selection committees, a co-ordination committee should be formed it will help and inform the members regarding players participation in the sub Junior, Junior and Senior levels.
Certificate age of a Player should be ascertained, there should be two former International players and Three Doctors panel in the committee.
Players should be registered with the State Association and the Indian Hockey Federation must have all the details of the Players
IHF should have a website of all the present players, former International and The Olympians.
National Championships in all categories must be organized on time specially organized before the Olympic and other Important International events.
Two seminars should be organized compulsorily for Umpires and Coaches. At the State level also umpires and coaches should be organized.
Shri S.B. Subbaiah : The National Championship should be organized on old pattern. At present IHF had given recognition to Associate members and they are directly participating in the national championship. Infect 40 teams are participating and host organizers have to bear additional expenses therefore majority of the States are reluctant to organize the championships.
Premier hockey should be organized in a professional manner so as to make the event more attractive. IPL pattern be introduced to popularise the game.
Shri Dhanraj Pillai: Indian hockey history and its achievements be tabulated in a professional manner. Sponsors should be encouraged
Proper Planning, Programming and implementation should be prepared by the reputed firms and their proposal be given to sponsors. Foreign coaches should not be made the chief coach for the Indian hockey team, only for specialization purposes foreign coaches be invited as consultants.
Shri Ajit Pal Singh : Exhibition matches with India’s popular players should be organized as per the Bhopal Pattern in various States and towns. This will enable the promotion of hockey in India.
After a group discussion and deliberation the following suggestion are jointly made by the Stalwarts:
1- The Government of India should instruct all the State Associations/ Federations to nominate former Olympians and International hockey players regarding voting rights. New selection committee members would be nominated by the out going members selection committee
2- The IHF should have specialist coaches to impart coaching for specialized position e.g. Goal Keeping, Drag Flicker etc.
3- IHF should have Accidental and Life Insurance policies for player. If some players gets an injury or in case of serious injuries a player must get best possible treatment.
4- Indian team coaches and players should be given honorarium. Their duties should be assigned and match fee should be stipulated.
5- All the Former Internationals and Olympians player’s services should be taken to trained the players and their duration should also be given in writing. Indian team coaches’ appointment should be made after an interview by the former stalwarts. A coach thus appointed should have complete program and the aim. The following players Shri Dhanraj Pillai, Shri Dilip Tirkey, Shri Harinder Singh, Shri Sayyad Jalaluddin Rizvi, Shri Sameer Dad, Shri Altaf ur Rahman have given their consent to impart coaching to teams.
6- The selection committee should be present during the Schools and Universities Tournaments so as to spot the talent.
7- At present IHF has been dissolved and an Ad hoc committee has formed. there should be a proper co-ordination among the State hockey association, selection committee and Ad hoc members of the IHF. Former players and office bearers should co ordinate with the IHF
8- Committees and Sub- committees should be formed at various level e.g. Coaches selection committee, marketing committee, infrastructure committee, Junior level talent search committee,
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Umpires committee, Technical committee, Schools and colleges coordination committee and tournament committee and their duties and accountabilities should be fixed . This will enable to popularise the game of hockey.
At the End of the meeting the selection committee chairman Shri Asalam SherKhan had given vote of thanks to all the former Olympians and International hockey players and he also assured them that their valuable suggestions will be forwarded to Govt. of India and the Indian Olympic Association for further perusal.