Hooky with Indian Hockey
One more Hockey World Cup is past the stage where the countries which progress and the one’s which will play for pride have been sorted out. Unfortunately the two sub-continental teams which used to dominate the world hockey stage will only be playing for pride – they can be happy reflecting on past glory.
When we beat Pakistan in the opener, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi announced a Rs. 100,000 award per player – a bit pre-mature I thought at that time – which has proved to be correct. What is the point in playing politics with sport – just shows we have extremely shallow thinking and cannot see the bigger picture.
The administrators are going to end up blaming the players for a “lackluster” show – but where does the fault actually lie? A bit of introspection on the part of the administrators will lay bare the truth. After all a team is just as good as the system in which it functions and the system is only as good as the people who administer it. If we have to really succeed then a complete overhaul is required, starting with the Government’s approach to the national game (it is hockey you know and not cricket as some would claim!). Any student of management will tell you that change always begins at the top and development happens from the grass roots. The sad part is that I doubt whether the current crop of administrators at Hockey India would be able to accept this bitter truth and take steps to change for the better so that we are ready for the next World Cup.
The test which Hockey India faces is the democratization of the set-up which means elections. So far FIH has let us get away with it because we are the hosts and have given a deadline for having elections by middle of this year. If the administration does not correct its errant ways, we will not be allowed to participate in future international tournaments. High time the powers that be stopped playing hooky with the sport. I just hope the administrators have their vision rectified by going in for a corneal transplant and doing justice to the sport and national pride. Jai Hind.
When we beat Pakistan in the opener, Mr. Suresh Kalmadi announced a Rs. 100,000 award per player – a bit pre-mature I thought at that time – which has proved to be correct. What is the point in playing politics with sport – just shows we have extremely shallow thinking and cannot see the bigger picture.
The administrators are going to end up blaming the players for a “lackluster” show – but where does the fault actually lie? A bit of introspection on the part of the administrators will lay bare the truth. After all a team is just as good as the system in which it functions and the system is only as good as the people who administer it. If we have to really succeed then a complete overhaul is required, starting with the Government’s approach to the national game (it is hockey you know and not cricket as some would claim!). Any student of management will tell you that change always begins at the top and development happens from the grass roots. The sad part is that I doubt whether the current crop of administrators at Hockey India would be able to accept this bitter truth and take steps to change for the better so that we are ready for the next World Cup.
The test which Hockey India faces is the democratization of the set-up which means elections. So far FIH has let us get away with it because we are the hosts and have given a deadline for having elections by middle of this year. If the administration does not correct its errant ways, we will not be allowed to participate in future international tournaments. High time the powers that be stopped playing hooky with the sport. I just hope the administrators have their vision rectified by going in for a corneal transplant and doing justice to the sport and national pride. Jai Hind.
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