Successful WSH launch a slap on the face of HI and

Successful launch of World Series Hockey, a slap on the face of HI and FIH

The much awaited – but much-hated by powers that be in India as well as in the world — World Series Hockey has been successfully launched today in Chandigarh. A simple but impressive opening ceremony was followed by the first match, between Bhopal Badshahs and Chandigarh Comets.

Not less than sports minister of the country came on board and not only wished success of WSH and also expressed a view that WSH is an innovation that India presents to the world. Its is not a small praise, but has significance on how the government of the day view the happening on hockey front.

Leading players of India – except those who are in the national camp – took part. Players like Bharat Chhikara, who was in the Olympic Qualifier standby list, was among the players on duty today.

Ramandeep Singh, the wily winger who enthralled the crowd a couple of months ago in the Sultan of Johor Bahru Cup was also on play. The point is, national players as experienced as Chhikara and as young as Ramandeep chose to play the WSH.

The umpiring was done by none other than most acclaimed of Indian horizon, golden whistle holder, Satinder Sharma, and the coaches on board were also no less reputed.

Padamshree award winner Vasudevan Baskaran was the coach of one side, while Harendra Singh, who was national coach this month last year was the other.

With top brands like Bridgestone on the title, rival mobile giants — Airtel and Vodafone – and matrix, Ambuja cement on either television screens or on the billboards of the stadium, nothing lacked as far as the WSH is concerned.

Paradoxically, the same Shivnaresh who provided sportswear and kitted national team for the recent Olympic Qualifier, was the official provider of the same to WSH.

FIH’s own blue-eyed Denis Meredith is the man in charge of technical things, and one of the India’s think tanks during the Perth tour in October – November last year, Charles Goudoin, is among the foreigners coaches with a WSH Franchise.

The first match, despite stars absenting, was not a bore. It was a thrill more so in the last
Quarter where three of the seven goals the match witnessed were scored.

Crowd was not overflowing, and it is a bit of dampener considering the hockey hungry Chandigarh people, but one has to consider the fact the match was held on a working day and the match started 21 hrs.

The FIH may have taken a very mature, very balanced, vary well-guarded view of WSH of late, but it has been a bitter critic of WSH till then. We are at pains to understand its sudden volte face. We are also not aware what factors contributed to its sudden softening. We are confused why all of a sudden the parent body passed the buck on the national federation much against what it was doing till then, calling the league unsanctioned, for which it has no business to pass a judgement as it is something India’s domestic affair.

Whatever, the fact of the matter is the WSH is a reality. It has been achieved against every obstacle both FIH and HI created. Even now Railways, Indian Overseas Bank, Services Sports Board and some others have refused permission to players. Yet, the WSH has about 200 good players like Chhikara, Rajpal Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Diwakarram and others on its teams.

We in India cannot say they are not players of worth.

Hockey India Secretary General Narinder Batra gave the impression to this site that he will not have any problem if the WSH is held after the Qualifier. He reasoned that the series needed to be postponed so that Indian players would give their best in the Qualifier. We in the media were officially sent a signed letter / request of players on tour (Champions Challenge Cup I) asking for the postponement.

The WSH was then postponed. Now that HI and current national players chose to do what they did, there certainly arises a question of ethics and morality.