What MRF has done, in developing the pace battery for the team that had Gavaskar to open the bowling, is badly needed for Indian Hockey... A crop of professional players to be identified right in the bud and groom them with world class training and support... The glory days will be back... Hope the IHF, government and fans would take it as an eye opener... The overwhelming and creative response from the rediff readers is a clear indicator for the Indian support for the game... Only feeling is that the guys like Ambani, Sharukh and Mallya has some commitment towards their claim of "passion for sports" other than making money... they should follow the footsteps of the great visionary late Ravi Mammen... Who proved nothing is impossible...
No, the players and the coach are not to blame for the national disaster, i.e, failing to qualify for the Olympics. We, each and every one of us Indians have failed the team. We have neglected the game that has given us nine world titles. What more success is necessary to prove your worth? Our hockey players have given us far more than our cricketers have. We have betrayed them and stabbed them in their backs. Blinded by money in Cricket, we have starved the game of Hockey to death. IS IT NOT A SHAME WE DO NOT RECOGNIZE LESLIE CLAUDIUS AND ASHOK KUMAR AND GO GA GA WITH SOURAV AND SACHIN? Money is necessary but it is no sustitute for a burning desire to succeed. Marketing alone is not enough. Let us struggle. Money will follow. Let every Indian with a conscience vow to do whatever we can do for Hockey. Not all of us can influence national policy decisions, niether can we bring money into Hockey, but we can teach our kids the game. I am teaching my only child, a daughter aged nine the game. I have attracted other children into it. I will form a small Hockey club for youngsters. I appeal to all of you who read this message to do the same. I vow to continue this to the last day of my life. Let us promise we will not let the game die in the land of the great Dhyan Chand.
RE:Vow to stage a comeback in Hockey. Dr Shankar Kuamr Chatterjee
by Debanjan Bhattacharya on Mar 11, 2008 09:09 PM
Fascinating. Exaactly a year ago, it happened in cricket too....& the nation turned around. So why not now? Perhaps it has been for the better. Get a few jokers (the admin deptt) out, get the right guys in & that's as simple as that
RE:Vow to stage a comeback in Hockey. Dr Shankar Kuamr Chatterjee
by Sunil nair on Mar 11, 2008 09:36 PM
Yeh, why not all those people (Mallya, Sharukhan etc.,) betting cores to get cricketers to play for their banners.... think about Sponsoring our national game(Hockey) players.
RE:Vow to stage a comeback in Hockey. Dr Shankar Kuamr Chatterjee
by Kingchn on Mar 11, 2008 09:27 PM
I fully agree with you Shankar, we have let the game to die to this level and now its our responsibility to bring it back live. Hocky is our nations pride.
I am not inclined to blame the players nor the people who are in the helm of affairs but grossly and squarely to the people of India. How many spectator watch the game??????? With empty galleries we must not expect good performances from the players. They always lack the competitive sprite. We ourselves are wrought.
We must not forget that the astroturf was the outcome of foreign onslaught to bring an end to the south east asian countries. We did not combat the. The speed and the strength of the western countries is far great. We all look like dwarfs in front of them. Why can't we be more scientific in our approach and beat them at their strategy. Which means that do we have anybody who can strategise, plan and execute plans looking at the psychological and physical strenght of the opponents.We are too egoistis and have too much of pride and have the stupid inability to learn.IHF chief and this Carvalho who think their ego is at stake to learn. Duds die hard and wont leave with heads hig. But use thier positon to dictate. They need to be shot dead. New generation is in the wait. Dead bearded ducks go home and let cricket type philosolhy get in .
It is time for IHF along with govt to see that Hockey is played in schools compulsorily, at least in Metros and mini metros, so that new talents can be found. Otherwise, in a short period, India will not qualify even for the olympic qualifier. Never hear attitude of Gill and his associates has led to this disaster. He should step down if he has any self respect and someone with real fire and appetite to increase the level of the game should take his position. Hardly 5% of the schools in India have a hockey team and you cannot expect corporates or media to turn their attention to this game if it is not played in a big way. It is all in the hands of Govt, IHF, and some corporates. If nothing is going to improve, I think it is better to erase this game because it needs lot of money to install astrodurf, equipment, and for palyers health. Let us wait and see.
RE:Time to change or erase it
by Anup Dixit on Mar 11, 2008 08:36 PM
Dear sir,
I appreciate and share your concern, however, I do not agree making a particular sport compulsary. Cricket is so popular without such compulsion. The difference probably is that Mr.Gill is not a good marketing man. He was unable to popularise the game, and was unable to keep up with the modernisation of the game. I think that we first need a change at the top, and then take on from there.
Everyone has ups and downs in life. Indian hockey is no different. Its a different matter that due to cricket's popularity, we (including myself) have ignored hockey, and finally we have been served the wake up call.
In any case, we have to make a fresh beginning, and for a start, we must replace Mr.Gill immediately. Mr.Gill is a proven failure. Maybe he tried his best, but his methods failed. We need someone with fresh ideas. In fact, ideally an ex-hockey international should be in charge, and in this regard, Dhanraj Pillay appears to be the best guy for the job. Although its not fair to give Dhanraj the job at this stage, but arguably, we don't have a better choice.
RE:Make a new beginning
by RAJIV SONI on Mar 11, 2008 08:18 PM
well said anup...jo ho gaya bhool jaao....start afresh... and try to make urself and ur country proud in the future....no need to cry over spilled milk....ROCK ON HOCKEY PLAYERS....make us proud in future
RE:Make a new beginning
by ramakrishnan on Mar 11, 2008 09:10 PM
we should start keep away all topheads in ihf and let the players playwel and get chance in team.we shoud keep stanby team also with good playing idea with strength like auss creket team.we must give chance agin to carvelho with danraj.also give the players coaching camps in europe,auss,for little period till our team get strong stamino,anway we wont avoid our special of tribbling game althe best for future matches.thank u team india and coach carvelho.
Few months back when one of the best hockey player India had retired at the age of 26 to pursue MBA, it was a clear signal of where the game is leading to. I remember few years back our team returned with gold medal at some asia level competition and some players asked for hike in their pay, and the dictator president dropped them from the team. You can't manage players like you managed terrorist.
