The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Justified grievance

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Friday, Sep 28, 2007
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Justified grievance

The lament of the chief coach of the national hockey team that his wards’ victory in the Asia Cup was ignored is reflective of how our governments treat sports other than cricket. It is a pity that we have to remind our people that hockey is our national game. Any honour, by way of awards and rewards, should be spontaneous and timely. Only that will make the recipients proud. Cricket is a popular game and hence the hype and pomposity accorded to it. But that should not deter the development of other sports.

V.N. Adiseshan,

Vellore

* * *

The joy of our victory has been greatly diminished by the stark contrasts it brings to light. It is sad to see cricket hogging all the limelight despite commendable performances by our sportspersons in many other fields. The Asia Cup hockey-winning team or the Indian volleyball team that made it to the Commonwealth Volleyball Championships final did not get even a fraction of the money or fame that has been bestowed on our cricket team.

Sikander Khan,

New Delhi

* * *

Everyone is happy about India’s victory. But was it necessary to shower such a big bonanza on the players? There is every reason to believe that other sports are getting a step-motherly treatment from the government and sports bodies. When our hockey players won the Asia Cup there was not even a reception, let alone gifts.

Wg. Cdr. V. Sundaresan (retd.),

Secunderabad

* * *

The treatment meted out to our hockey players exposes the decadency that prevails in the way sports is administered in our country. Politicians should have been more restrained in showering bonanzas on the cricketers. They earn quite a lot from endorsements and sponsorships anyway. Considering the support and popularity cricket already enjoys, the government should concentrate more on developing other sports.

Jeevan Kuruvilla,

Vellore
* * *
Not long ago, Vishwanathan Anand became the world chess champion and the Indian hockey team won the Asia Cup. Neither Anand nor the hockey team was given due recognition, let alone rewards in cash and kind raining on Dhoni’s boys.

N. Ramamurthy,

Chennai
* * *
The Asia Cup winners are fully justified in demanding better recognition. Forget private agencies, at least the governments could have honoured the players suitably.

It is a pity that the national game has been reduced to a level where the players are forced to demand: Cheque de India.

V. Vijayendra Rao,

Neyveli
* * *
That the hockey coach chose the same day as the victory celebrations to protest was disturbing. Accolades should be won, not demanded. There can be no comparison between the Indian cricket team’s Twenty20 victory and the hockey team’s Asia Cup victory. The popularity of cricket cannot be dismissed as media hype. Hockey may be the national game on paper but when it comes to reality, there can be no doubt that cricket was, is and will continue to be the number one sport in India.

T. Ramesh,

Kozhikode

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