Stand On Your Own Stick!

Gurjit Singh loves India's National Sport. While the sport is in shambles, he believes that 28th February 2010 could just change it all.

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28 February 2010 is going to be a historical day for Indian sports. Does this date ring a bell? I doubt it does!! Not to bug you further, this is the date when Hockey World Championships 2010 will get underway at the Dhyan Chand Stadium, New Delhi.

Last time India hosted this championship was in 1982, Mumbai. This World cup presents Indian Hockey with a golden opportunity to make good off all disasters which has gripped it since the last two decades. Bad administration, poor infrastructure and lack of support from sponsors and media are some of the ills that have plagued the fortunes of India hockey since mid 1980’s, a stark distinction from the times of Dhyan Chand in 1930’s to Pargat Singh in 1980’s, when India ruled the world hockey and players enjoyed a cult status.

This is the moment for Indian hockey to capture the mind and souls of the Indian sports fan and announce its arrival to sponsors and media as alternative to cricket. Going by recent results on field and the drama off it, this is going to be a tough task though.

India squandered chances of making it to the final of recently concluded BDO Champions Cup at Salta by going down 3-6 to Pakistan (we managed to finish third finally!) and lost 3-5 to China (not considered as strong team) in Asia cup finals before. Prior to start of the Champions Cup Sandeep Singh was unceremoniously asked to step down as captain and Rajpal Singh asked to take over. Not to mention player’s revolt against Spanish coach Brasa.

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Much truce was made after the intervention of ad hoc committee chairman Aman Matoo of Hockey India. All this doesn’t sound well for Indian Hockey at a time when it is standing close to a championship that can change its fortune and allow it to stand on its own stick!

I just keep my fingers cross and wish that Hockey fraternity realizes the importance of this event and for once come together to prove all skeptics and detractors wrong. Let us all pray in hope that Indian hockey does us proud and wins this one for itself more than for the nation.

FIH announced pools for World Cup on 15th December 2009. India is placed in tough pool B with strong hockey nations like Australia, Spain and traditional rivals Pakistan.