Hockey: Many positives from new tournament

Sandip G

CHENNAI: By no barometer was the World Series Hockey a runaway blockbuster with spectators teeming in to behold high-quality action. To no extend was it a path-breaker, for similar, if not better-rated hockey leagues had floundered by the wayside. But few would argue its restorative effect on the national sport, so much so that there were clear enough indications that the sport is quite alive in the country.

To start with, that the tournament kicked off despite restraints imposed by the Hockey India and Federation of International Hockey is a credit in itself. Though it deprived the best active players of hockey from the league, at least the Indian ones, things could be better next year.

Most of the players abstained from the league, as they feared prohibition from the Olympics this year. But from next year, it would be more flexible, and even if it might invoke the governing body’s wrath, they would care less for the money involved in the league is unimaginable.

And if the better players enter the league, rest assured that the quality will enhance and so will the crowd.

This year’s field mostly comprised an ensemble of retired legends, semi-retired players, discards and fringe players.

Hence, the quality wasn’t of the highest order. But the competence levels were good, and the championship succeeded to sustain the sort of suspense and close- foughted ness that makes any league worth watching.

The semifinalists weren’t quarantined until the last group match and there were upsets all the way, none as memorable as Pune Strykers’ coup of Chandigarh Comets in the second semifinal.

Majority of the overseas players disappointed, except for the Pakistanis. A handful of local players took this as the launchpad to national reckoning.

For example, Pune Strykers’ drag-flicker Gurpreet Singh, who has buckled 12 goals.

Or their goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Guri. Chennai Cheetahs’ custodian, Chintakunta Santosh Kumar, too justified his immense potential with a string of breathtaking saves.

The crowd response was mixed. Whereas it drew decent support in cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore and Bhopal, the response was cold in Delhi and surprisingly in Jalandhar. The tickets, many complained, were pricey.

However, the TRP ratings, according to organisers has pipped English Premier League’ s ratings. But there are aspects that warrant tinkering, such as the scheduling.

Though teams did well to not crib, the rigours of backto- back matches had disadvantaged most teams.