Bollywood stars, politicians stay away from World Cup

Prabhjot Singh

Tribune News Service

Was it for a cause or pure commercial consideration that Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra, cricketer Virender Sehwag, shooter Raghuvendra Singh Rathore appeared in “Dhak dhak go” promo that wanted people to come and support Indian hockey team in the World Cup at Major Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium.

Unfortunately, none of them could either make it to the venue of the event or their presence went unnoticed. Not only Priyanka Chopra, Virender Sehwag or Raghuvendra Singh Rathore kept their date with hockey, even others, including Ambassador of hockey Sunil Shetty, and the Big B (Amitabh Bacchan), who volunteered to help Indian hockey players, failed to spare time for the sport, they claim they love most.

Not only Bollywood and other sport stars, even political leaders, including Chief Ministers and Sports Ministers of different states, could spare time to watch this biggest hockey event. Many politicians and bureaucrats looking after sports department would have made a beeline in case this event or similar international sporting events are organised overseas.

How many of the bureaucrats and politicians who visited Beijing during the 2008 Olympic Games came to see the World Cup matches here. Their love is perhaps not for sports but for jaunts abroad. Intriguingly, had it been cricket, they would have done everything to secure special invites, not only for themselves, but also for all members of their families, to see each and every game of the World Cup.

Blame must go to Hockey India, Indian Olympic Association and the organising committee of the World Cup. None had done any home work to make a list of invites. Even those who wanted to come but were not invited had their faces sullen in anguish. Their grouse is that their contribution to the sport has been ignored.

Besides, their right to get invitations for all major events of the sport has been violated. Not many of them even made efforts to get in touch with the organisers or buy tickets to watch the biggest event of the sport they love most. On the opening day, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dixit came. Though the Union Minister of Sports Manohar Singh Gill watched most of India games here, other ministers, both from the centre and the states remained conspicuous by their absence.

Interestingly some states who announced special grants for players, too, could not make it to the union capital to come, watch hockey and back up national team. Tailpiece: While FIH claims that more than 50 per cent of its total revenue comes from India, the country does not have enough to support and sustain its own national team players.