The things he has quoted are 100% true, and Hockey is the dream game for many of us and all that we need is more Hockey to watch out, the popularity has gone down because of lack of Domestic hockey tournaments...
It is very true statement that hockey is alive and kicking in India.Everybody says cricket is the most popular sport in India.The fact is that the players are popular and not the sport.When you go to a cricket stadium where the no so called star players such as sachin,inc, not even crows are spectators. Whereas if you conduct a hockey nationals definately you would find crowd pouring in.Further cricket is entertainment than a sport because the game has no qualities to be called a sport.So going to watch a for a movie or a picniccricket match where India plays is more like going(The players themselves tour overseas countries like going for a picnic).70% of those going for a match do have clear knowledge of the game-what they know is a 4 or a 6 or out.It has been six years since nationals in hockey has been conducted and the sad part is most of the matches which India plays is itself not being telecasted exept a few major ones like CT,WC and Olympics.So many people do not know what is going on hockey which is the situation of any sport.Only when more matches (nationals)are played in India will people get interested.But I do not want it to be vulgarised like cricket.
We love reading such creative and constructive columns from the world renowned Indian hockey wizard. As captain the former India defender and skipper led the team in a purposeful way. Reading such columns as the present one can only motivate our tremendously gifted hockey players and administrators through out the country. Mr. Pargat Singh has played plenty of top class hockey across the hockey playing world. We would love to read more columns from him in the near future. The elegant star of yester years has still a lot to contribute to modern hockey in the country.
