Hockey bodies too need to be revived

Prabhjot Singh

Tribune News Service

Though the State governments are mandated to provide infrastructure and training facilities, including coaches, to nurture sports talent, yet it is in the domain of the sports bodies to conduct district, state and national championships. In other words, the Sports Associations take over from where the Sports Department leave. Though till date, both the wings — the sports department and the sports associations — had been in disarray, so downslide of sports in the State was natural. But for the past couple of years, an effort is being made to stem this downslide. Infrastructure is being upgraded and activity has resumed at most of the coaching centers.

Unfortunately, the State Sports Associations are still be rejuvenated. For example, it is almost a year when all the bodies controlling the game of hockey, both men and women, merged to form a unified Hockey Punjab. But still most of the districts are yet to have unified District Hockey Associations.

The State also has to end different wings of the government doing the same thing. Instead, resources and finances can be diverted for improving the infrastructure.

Though Hockey Punjab has involved a number of Olympians and former internationals, District Hockey Associations, too, can be encouraged to rope in other available experienced players. Some of the central schemes, including PYKKA can also be used to augment facilities and strengthen pool of trained manpower for use as coaches as well for looking after technical aspects of the game.

Things are gradually settling down and it may take a while for Punjab to re-emerge the major hockey nursery, not only of India but also worldwide as it did in the last millennium Hockey has again started picking up in the rustic belts of the Doab, especially the Sansarpur-Khusropur-Mithapur belt courtesy the Punjab Sports department that has been providing free playing kits and sticks besides laying of mini turfs in villages.

The Tribune spoke to coaches and players at Surjit Hockey Academy, Kukar Pind and Sports School that have some of the best hockey centers now. Budding players of Kukar Pind on the outskirts of Jalandhar Cantonment assemble at the newly laid mini-turf every morning. This brigade, some 60 of them, do not miss training as they take turns in watering the synthetic surface by using both buckets and a hosepipe.

Goalkeeper Puneet Sharma of DAV College Jalandhar was excited, “Ever since the mini-turf has been laid, not only youngsters but even other villagers have been enthused.”

The players, however, miss the services of a coach. “In the absence of a coach we are left with no option but to learn the game by watching others play. Though playing on the surface is a boon for us, we could give much better results if we get a regular coach here. The sports department should put up water connections for maintaining the turf”, said Sukhjinder Singh Bahia, a full back, who had been playing in inter-university tournaments.

Harkaramjit Singh Bahia, an NRI from Canada and a hockey enthusiast, says that apart from popularising the game and maintaining the mini-turf, the villagers are also planning a massive plantation drive to develop a green belt around the turf. As NRIs we want all facilities for our budding hockey players ”, he added.

Hockey has got a new lease of life at the Government Sports School with the revival of the wing last year that had been closed eight years ago. Two of its players Gurpreet Singh and Amanjot Singh – both forwards – had an impressive show during the 55th National School Games (U-17) held at Jalandhar last year. At present the wing has 32 players in U-17 and U-19 age groups.

“Although a small beginning but the selection of two players for the national games came as a major boost for us. The boys are picking the game fast and I am hopeful of a good show this year too”, says coach Malkit Singh. “Our players also play on the Astroturf at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in shifts”, he added. Coach Avtar Singh feels distribution of free sports kits by sports department and the recruitment of coaches on contract basis are the source of this response. “We received the best talent in the game,” he adds. “We have the best facilities at the academy as players get free diet. Even the hostel facilities are also at par with any other institution in the state,” adds Avtar.

And to equip the players with different styles of hockey special hockey clinics have also been held in the past. Shiv Jagday of Canada, and an FIH coach, held a hockey clinic at Ludhiana in March this year. Earlier, he supervised a 10-day camp at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Academy in 2008. The players from the academy were also taken to witness the World cup Hockey held at Delhi recently.

“Earlier schools used to conduct hockey tournaments but with the passage of time the sports culture has virtually collapsed in the Government Schools”, says coach Gurdev Singh. Upcoming players from the academy are skipper Mandeep Singh, Manpreet Singh (half back) and centre forward Akashdeep. Forward Talwinder Singh, half back Barkat Singh and drag flicker Sukhmandeep Singh were selected for U-19 World Cup training camp. Star striker Gurwinder Singh Chandi and forwards Sarwan Singh and Ranjodh Singh besides full back Harbir Singh have played for India in the Six Nation Hockey Tournament held at Singapore.

With inputs from Kusum Arora.

REVIVING HOCKEY-III

HIGHLIGHTS

In August 2009, Punjab Hockey Association, Punjab Women Hockey Association, Pepsu Hockey Association for men and Pepsu Women Hockey Association were merged to form Hockey Punjab

Unified District Hockey Associations (DHAs) are yet to become functional

After organizing 4-Nation Punjab Cup in 2009, State now proposes to hold another six to eight-nation invitation tournament in July/August this year

Olympian Surjit Singh Randhawa Memorial Stadium in Jalandhar has floodlights and a new Astroturf.

State proposes to have eight stadiums with floodlights by end of the current fiscal year

Punjab Government also proposes to build a world class Hockey Stadium in Mohali (opposite the PCA Stadium)