Experts aghast to find hockey in elimination zone
TNN
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NEW DELHI: While the vote against wrestling at the IOC executive board meeting caused a furore, hockey aficionados also had reasons to feel concerned after it was revealed that the sport was also in the Olympic ‘relegation zone.’ Some Indian hockey experts felt that the IOC was not aware of the popularity of the game.
“Just have a look at the viewership of the Hockey India League (HIL) and you will know how popular this game is, at least in India,” said Jagbir Singh, former international and assistant coach of HIL side Punjab Warriors. “If they were thinking of removing hockey as an Olympic sport, they better forget it.”
Delhi Waveriders coach Ajay Bansal was also saddened. “This is surprising as well as sad. There was an attempt in the past too to remove the game from the Olympics,” he said.