Hockey no more a crowd puller

Prabhjot Singh

Tribune News Service

Holding of a prestigious tournament like World Cup has failed to enthuse Delhiites. If the historic Major Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium gets filled up on alternate days, it is more because of matches of the home team. Security, non-availability of tickets and insipid performance by the Indian team in the recent past may be the contributing factors for poor response from local population to this fortnight-long mega event.

Even ad blitzkrieg featuring Bollywood and sports stars has been of little help. Those coming regularly to watch all games are ardent lovers of the game belonging to the strong Indian overseas community. On a day when India is not playing, at least every third spectator in the stands is an overseas Indian. Amazingly, even Olympians and international players of yesteryears based in Delhi and National Capital Region, too, have been keeping away from the event.

Among the regulars are Balbir Singh Senior, Balbir Singh (Services), Harcharan Singh, HJS Chimni, Aslam Sher Khan, Pargat Singh, Sukhvir Grewal, Ashok Kumar, Syed Ali, Zafar Iqbal, Jalaluddin, MP Singh, Jagdeep Singh Gill, Jugraj Singh and a few others.

Former left winger Thoiba Singh, now associated with administration of the sport in the Northeast, was also spotted some days ago. Not many of the former office-bearers of the Indian Hockey Federation, including KPS Gill, Inder Mohan Mahajan, Ashwani Kumar, Raghuvendra Prasad and K. Jothikumaran, have evinced any interest in the World Cup.

Overseas visitors include Shiv Jagday (former national coach of both the US and Canada), Sarjit Singh (former captain and coach of Malaysia), Akhtar Rasool and Sardar Hassan (both former captains of Pakistan). Olympian Avtar Singh (Kenya), one of finest fullbacks belonging to overseas Indian community is also regular. Dr Joginder Singh, who retired as an orthopaedician in Germany, and had been honorary physician of Indian team for last 30 years, too, watches all the games with his wife, daughter and son-in-law who incidentally is the President of a major hockey club in Germany.

Those who arrived late include Michael Kindo, one of greatest fullbacks tribal India has produced. Manager of the Netherlands team, Ties Kruize, had played the 1981-82 World Cup in Mumbai. Those still not noticed include Horst Vein, popularly known as mother of all hockey coaches. Paul Lissek, who played in the 1975 World Cup, has been here as a part of Team Australia.

Other day when the National Press Club of India held a reception for visiting Pakistani and other foreign journalists, commentator Jasdev Singh recalled his long association with the game. Only broadcaster and commentator to receive the Olympic order besides getting country’s highest Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards, Jasdev Singh was visibly upset for not being invited to witness the World Cup.

Though now men and women hockey bodies have merged, the ongoing World Cup appears to be all males domain. Not many of former women Olympians or international players are to be seen here. Amrit Bose, former Secretary of Women’s Hockey Federation, is perhaps an exception.