Hockey needs a makeover
Prabhjot Singh writes from New Delhi
Hockey World Cup may not return to India for another 15 to 20 years. Though it leaves behind many memoirs, both sweet and sour, the sport Indians adorned most may not be the same again. Though India went three notches up, from 11th position finish in 2006 to eighth position here, but home team’s overall performance was far from satisfactory.
It could win only one of six matches it played in the fortnight-long mega event besides drawing one. Remaining four it lost. Two of these losses were against the teams that were destined to play the medal rounds, but other two losses, against Spain and then Argentina, by flattering margins were a set back. In fact, India had no reason to lose its game against England as well.
Hockey is a game that has been changing fast. Even the Union Sports Minister Manohar Singh Gill admitted that changes in the game, including rules, equipment and playing surface, have made it attractive besides adding pace to it, yet both India and Pakistan have failed to keep pace with it.
Not only synthetic surfaces, even the team management needs to be bolstered up. India may be the single largest export house of software engineers but as far as hockey is concerned, Indian expertise in technological advancements in sports in general and hockey in particular is nowhere near the Europeans or the Australians.
Physical fitness, basic skills and new equipment have seen the western world wrest mastery from Indian masters. Unfortunately, even the base of Indian hockey has been shrinking rapidly. Number of schools, colleges and universities evincing interest in the sport has been waning fast. No serious effort was made to use the World Cup here as a source for inspiring youngsters to take to this sport.
Though a couple of stalls of sports goods, especially sportswear, were organised as a part of the World Cup but that was more from a commercial angle than imbibing in the younger generation a love for the game. Security may have been a big concern because of developments across the border and threats looming large of probable strikes in this part of the subcontinent.
Even the participating teams were not keen to come out and participate in promotional events where some of the top teams and players could have visited schools and colleges and encouraged youngsters to play the game with them. Security was the biggest hurdle that instead of diminishing drew greater gaps between the players and the spectators on one hand and the players, officials and media on the other.
There was hardly any communication between the players and the media. Now when the nation has created a huge facility by using hundreds of crores from public exchequer, the Union Ministry of Sports and the Sports Authority of India should utilise the new infrastructure to better use by allowing schools, hockey clubs and institutions with hockey teams to use these facilities.
Even if some usage charges are to be introduced, they should be kept on the minimal side so that facilities so created are used to the brim. But unfortunately indications are that these facilities may not be open to public at least till the end of the year or till the Commonwealth Games are completed.
A lot of wet paint is still around. A number of things or discrepancies and shortcomings witnessed during the World Cup need to be rectified and fixed up. It means that Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium will for the time being remain inaccessible, both for technical and security concerns.