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Hockey anyone?

Being proactive could help Indian hockey regain its lost glory, writes Rayan Rozario

AT THE CROSSROADS The game has few takers in Coimbatore

Indian hockey doesn't seem to be going anywhere. And when it does move it soon comes to a dribbling halt. What's the reason?

"There are many but let's look at those factors that are within the purview of the respective district level hockey associations," says N. Mohandass Rao, the vice president of the Coimbatore District Hockey Association (CDHA).

"It was hockey that put India on the world map as early as 1928 when it first won the Olympic gold in Amsterdam. We continued to reign supreme till the early 70s. After that started a humiliating transition — from 1975 World Cup winners to the also-rans," he says.

Reviving the spirit

A senior member of CDHA, Mohandass says the district associations can contribute to the revival of hockey by being proactive.

"Today, the problem is that many associations are either keeping a low profile or staying away from the game. They take no serious or conscious effort to rejuvenate it. But then they are not entirely to blame. They have also been riding a bumpy road."

The 68-year-old says the major hurdles that the associations face are poor infrastructure, funds crunch and lack of sponsorships.

Who cares about hockey?

"It is sad that a city like Coimbatore, which has a rich hockey background, does not have an exclusive hockey ground while all the other disciplines, including ball badminton, have one in and around the Nehru Stadium. This is one major handicap that stops it from growing."

"The CDHA has been begging schools and colleges and the sports authority for grounds to conduct its league, coaching clinics, practice matches and other tournaments. They have been lamenting on this issue for a long time but who cares," asks the senior administrator.

He cites Holland as a fine example.

"If the Dutch are doing well it's because they have close to 450 astro-turf playing fields but a large country like India has only 15 or so. With these meagre modern playing facilities how do we expect our players to perform and produce the desired results?"

Exodus

Mohandass, who had captained the EID Parry Sports and Recreation Club team in Chennai for ever a decade, points out that cricket is eating into this national sport.

"Leave alone hockey or any discipline for that matter. It's the media that has transformed cricket into a household entertainment. Media is a powerful tool to promote any cause, be it business, politics, education or sports. But, then why do we give only cricket a big splash. It's time the media encouraged other sports too." He says if cricket today is a religion and cricketers are worshipped it's also because of BCCI's imaginative marketing and the kind of support that it has gained from the print and electronic media.

Save the game

"Because of cricket's tremendous popularity more and more youngsters are taking up the game. They know wielding the willow will fetch them lucrative jobs and better growth opportunities.

Hence there is a mass exodus to cricket from other disciplines. This growing situation has left hockey high and dry and today talent for hockey is scarce."

"The men at the helm of the affairs of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) must come out with something innovative to promote the game.

Get their act together

The premier hockey league is a good start but I feel it is short termed. The respective hockey associations and sports authorities must put their heads together and initiate damage control exercises to save this game from near extinction," he adds

How is it possible? "Establishing hockey academies will be a good move to bail out the game from the present rut and gloom. The academy must train and groom children in the under-15 and under-19 age groups. In the first place, one must identify schools and colleges with solid infrastructure. And, with encouragement and financial support, it should be possible to convince the authorities concerned to start an academy," says Mohandass.

"Besides these, he says the academy can select 30 to 40 promising young players and form CDHA junior and sub-junior teams. These teams can play practice matches with the State level teams of other districts like Chennai, Madurai and Tiruchi," he adds.

Catch them young

He says the IHF must consider introducing national championships for sub-juniors.

"This will motivate the local associations to focus and scout young talent and will also coincide with BCCI's ambitious `Catch them Young' project. We must be happy to have a stalwart like Mr. Claudius, the father of hockey, in Coimbatore.

He has been a big source of strength and inspiration to both the past and the present lot. We can seek his guidance.

It's time we create a bold new vision for the future," he adds.

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