Hockey suffering at grass root level: Balbir

Chandigarh: Balbir Singh (senior), former hockey player and member of three Olympic gold medal winning hockey teams, said that hockey was being neglected at the grass root level and unless things are corrected, India cannot regain its past glory.

Speaking at a meet the press programme at the Chandigarh Press Club on Saturday, Balbir (84) said he has been associated with hockey since he was six.

“Hockey has been my first love and even my wife said that she is my second wife, hockey being the first. Once a woman journalist said that hockey is the other woman in my life,” he said smiling.

Recounting his early days he said he started off as a goalkeeper during his school days.

“In my time hockey at the grass root level was very strong. Majority of the players in the national teams of both India and Pakistan were from Panjab University.

But nowadays there is hardly any team worth mentioning from school, college or university level,” lamented Balbir.

He said the game is not being encouraged in educational institutes and this is because cricket has completely dominated the psyche of students as well as the authorities.

“The Premier Hockey League is just restricted to Chandigarh or one or two more cities. Like IPL, it has to be taken to other cities to make it more attractive,” said Balbir.

“The hockey nationals are also a farce. Ninety per cent of the teams participating in the prestigious meet come without preparation, as they are more keen on traveling to a new place than playing serious hockey,” said the hockey legend.

He added this was because the standards have decreased and consistency is lacking.

“The faster things are rectified the better it will be for the long term future of the game in the country,” said Balbir.