‘Why can’t hockey produce the buzz as other sports?’

We claim hockey is our national game, but cricket still rules our hearts. While many know that the men’s Hockey World Cup 2010 will be held in New Delhi. Surprisingly, there is very little buzz over the matches to be held. It is sad, that the hosting of the World Cup by India could not even match the excitement generated by Hindi movie Chak De.

I would have liked certain controversies which could, in some way help, in providing publicity for the unnoticed event. Given the morale of the Indian team dogged by controversies, we have very little chance of winning the tournament. Is our interest in any game restricted to winning alone? Doesn’t this attitude expose our ignorance and inertia towards our national game?

Do the radical outfits know that Pakistan is slated to play in India and will face our players in the very first game?May be, national interest and controversies matter only for films and cricket. Who bothers about hockey? The game doesn’t attract any popularity, controversies, money and interest in India. I don’t blame cricketers but blame our ignorance. There are no professional bodies in sports other than for cricket, as they are ruled by corrupt self-serving bureaucrats.

Other than national pride, money also plays a great role in the development of a sportsperson. A player won’t pick up a hockey stick unless he is sure that it will serve him monetarily and reward him for his efforts. The same logic applies to other sports. I’m not an avid hockey fan. I like watching tennis, cricket, motorsports and Olympics. But since a big event like the World Hockey championships is to be held in India, I will cheer my team whatever its pitfalls may be.