Sahara tycoon in the IHF race
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The stakes are high. But the stage was empty. There was none to throw the hat into the ring. We are not aware who will fight out with whom. With the absence of fighters, the question of winner remained beyond the realm of guess. Was hockey so poor that there is none to fill up the leadership vacuum that exists now — ever since KPS Gill’s days were numbered and then he was numbed by the collective will of the country.
Now, there is a progress. One of the worst kept secrets is out. The war has commenced. And we have the first information.
JB Roy pitches in at the ring. The younger brother of Subrato Roy, Mohul of Sahara empire, is the man enrolls his name for the fight. He enters the race for hockey’s hotseat, the IHF chair. He did not say it in so many words, but his action speaks clearly for what is being transpired in the corridors of power,
In an exclusive chat with stick2hockey.com, Roy informed that he is organizing a seminar that will be held at Amby Valley, near Pune, in the early second week of next month. Amby Valley is the brand that the cricketers sported in one of their World Cup campaigns.
“We want those who have a heart for the welfare of hockey come forward and take part in the seminar. I have an emotional connect with hockey, as it is our national sport with a heritage, and want suggestions and roadmap for hockey from them”, Roy said.
It is gathered that invitations have already been dispatched to most of the State Hockey Associations. Indications are that it has so far elicited expected enthusiasm.
“We have not only invited State Hockey Associations but also other sections like former players”, Roy elaborated.
On a query, some of them confirmed receipt of the invitation and are willing to travel Amby Valley.
JB Roy’s interest on a move of this scale – bringing so many people to Amby Valley for a get together – is a clear indication that he is entering the boxing arena. Sahara has been the hockey’s national team sponsors since five years, and Roy is expected to be in the know of how the Federations and its units’ function.
However, it must be stated here that Roy’s move seems a calculated one and methodically done. The fact that he is presently heads a State Hockey Association – Bengal – and is part of the electoral college, cannot be overlooked.
In effect, the invitation is from an insider and it should send shivers down the spines of his rivals who are unknown at present. By virtue of holding the power to dispense day today hockey affairs, the Ad-hockey on hockey constituted by the Indian Olympic Association — of which the national body’s president Suresh Kalmadi himself is the chairman – rank rival number one. Though it is a fact that disgraced Gill would also like to enroll his name there. He is anyway a minor player, but with lot of nuisance value.
We have seen so many battles for hockey’s control. Most of the times, the new names crop up at the nick of time. Like Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel’s candidature in 2006.
In Roy’s move, we see an insider is pitching in, and he is a business man. It is a good augury that a member of business community is in the fray unlike in the past when only bureaucrats and police folk considered hockey their property to own and command. They never gave anything to hockey, but only gained from it.
To that extent, Roy’s entry is a welcome news. But it is politics and who knows what is in the store? Unless the rival party is not known, it is difficult to say final words on the matter.
It is however true Roy bells the cat. He certainly has the ‘First Man’ advantage whenever the war will heat up.
We have the interview of Roy which will be posted tomorrow in the interview section.
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what is not there in indian hockey? it has everything, players to everything. i don’t think hockey has no money. in India lot of money available for sports, even what government spends is more than what the whole of african continent has for sports. What we lack is willing to do things. ok, this business man is coming into hockey. he has any idea how to go about. then it is ok. am optimistic, hopefully good things occur in hocky. hockey needs people who have ideas, ideal unlimited!!!!!
good news. when is the election?
i propose another businessman like mittal or ambani for the race. That will be healthy. if business man win or lose they will take it easy unlike others who take everything to heart and enter in ego hassles. i too have the same doubt when is election due
What kind of seminar it is going to be? Political? or is it related to learning or which is beneficial for coaches and hockey players? If it is going to be of that kind, who are the speakers and what are the topics of seminar? Please let us know……..we too could take part….
We are yet to get the nature and details of the propsoed seminar. Once our hands are on, we will not delay in displaying it. Till then my advice to you will be to contact Sahara people, their official website might be of help to establish contact with them. Yes, you are partly correct, politics is certainly at play here and given the situation the hockey administration is in, is it unexpected?
I am still waiting to read THE interview of Mr.Roy , I am refering to ” We have the interview of Roy which will be posted tomorrow in the interview section.
”
Hope to get it soon.
Ankit Desai
I was working with Indian hockey team in 2005 in Chennai for the champions trophy hockey tournament where an expert came all the way from Delhi to demonstrate hi so called software known as ‘sports code’ to a couple of Olympians, Mr. KPS Gill, and Mr. JK. Infact they were ready to buy it. But the yester year Olympians did not like the idea of getting the software, as they felt their importance would go down the drains… as analysis would be a soul way to really understand the drawbacks of the opponent as well as ours. Hence, they are the people who advised KPS not to buy the softwares ‘as the teams does not play the same way as they did in the previous matches. So I think you should guess where do our coaches stand in video analysis. They see it like a movie. No discussions. Coz no software to do the notation.
That’s well said Dr.Saju. What do u want to say with respect to Sahara entering election. you mean to say he will also follow former olympians and hockey will go nowhere. please clarify me
I am sure that Sahara Icon enetering in election would be good for hockey, as he did well with Indian hockey as a sponsor for past many years, and would do more good if he is directly involved.
I thank this site for bringing this out. this man needs publicity. i hope he will revive good schemes if comes to power
i read somewhere the seminar is over. Why not more details about it here
What is the latest with regard to election?