Tit Bits Here and There – V

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Vidhya Stokes, Hockey India president, who was here for a day said that the election is not possible in May. “May be in June”, she said. I don’t think it’s a well thought out view, as we all know what will change in a month’s time in our homeland.

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The other day Asian Hockey Federation convened a press meet. There were less journalists than number of people on the dais. Hardly 6 or 7 reporters were there including three who attended the previous day AHF meeting essence of which was supposed to be briefed here !

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The briefing went on and on. According to them all is well, Asian hockey is developing. I asked is there any moves to improve communication among the Asian hockey nations. I was, in turn, asked what problem I have. Nothing personal gentlemen; the problem is language in leading women hockey nations like China, Korea and Japan. Recently India had a series against China and Japan, could we able to get any communication that time? People pretend everything is fine, it is at least not so for everybody. Of course, I asked one question, which I felt genuine, one to become a bad boy of everybody. It is ok with me.

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Since last three years I think AHF is selecting best players, and it is kept in wraps, printing it only in their quarterly bulletin. In this era of easy communication, can’t the AHF e-mail PDF of it to writing community. P. Alagendra, kingpin of the AHF for as long as you know, says they can’t. “Because, for example, press is against Bangladesh, they don’t want direct communication to press. We have decided to communicate only with the national bodies, not directly to press”.

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If this view is correct, then I feel the whole media policy of FIH is flawed, the poor fellows always keep us informed.

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I did not report much on the AHF decisions because they are hardly implemented. Commented one journo in the press box: “Had AHF implemented all its decisions made public, Asia should be doing better than Europe! Well said.

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One information that the AHF did not part with was, finalizing all 70 officials for the Asian Games, the full quota of 70 people!

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Yesterday Pakistan lost to Korea, the vocal among those who castigated the Irish umpire who gave a stroke in favour of Korea is, not just the aggrieved Pakistanis, but the Australians. Charlesworth was shouting all the time, and was visibly agitated, furious, came rushing to me to say this is not fair. Australians are facing poetic justice here. They have so much to complain about umpiring. Losing sides always do it, we have done it decades together.

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Another one commented: “Charlesworth is FIH master coach, he should be seen setting standards not like this”

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Yesterday, Irish umpires warren McCully flashed a green, then yellow and then red card all in the same minute to Pak captain Imran Md. when he agitated against his stroke award to Korea. Thee minutes late he flashed another red to Shahzad Aamir. Last year there was no red card issued. However, Aamir’s red card was rescinded and could play the team’s last match.

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Regarding Pakistan complaint of bad umpiring in their match against Australia, one of the umpires said, “Pak was behind 1-4 before coming back to 5-5 in second half, that time the umpire was good, he became bad suddenly for not giving a stroke”. Well said.