Who killed hockey in India?

GPM

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
1,507
Likes
522
There are many suspects. Leader of the pack is cricket. In good old times, Indian hockey was world champs when cricket India was the perpetual dogs. Till early 70s all was hunky dorey, more or less, hockey occanionally won a medal, cricket teams usually lost. Then Gavaskar burst on the scenes. It was a big CONSIPIRACY of course to make Gavaskar an all time great. CVricket started looking up, pushing hockey lower and lower. Things came to a boil when Kapil Dev delivered a fatal blow, his team won the 1983 world cup. Hockey never recovered.

Hockey Leauge started before IPL, but thanks to winning habits of Cricket India, it sank out of sight. Instead IPL has now put paid to all hopes of Team Hockey.


There are more cricket conspiracies. BCCI offered a financial package to Team Hockey. But did our self respecting hockey managers accept it? Nooo. Who knows BCCI might have corrupted our proud, impoverished and starving Hockey India and made them into champs. Horror.


Chess
The conspiracy rolled with Vishwanathan Anand becoming a sensational GM. Soon chess India got into the act, and before you could say GOAL, Chess India managed to conspire to make up 22 GM and a dozen WGMs, with hundreds if Masters. Not only that, Chess players manage to rob hockey India of a few gold medals too. Prospects looked even bleaker.

Teniss and badminton to cornered some media space edging out our team Hockey.

All except hockey India, SAI, Min of Sports are to blame for the shitpit India Hockey finds itself in.


Time govt steps in and reigns in BCCI, Chess India etc.
 

Yusuf

GUARDIAN
Super Mod
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
24,324
Likes
11,757
Country flag
No it's not cricket that has killed hockey but the administration (Read KPS Gill) which did.

Those who say the BCCI should be reigned in should actually be thinking about changing all such boards into a "BCCI". BCCI has proven that an independent board free from govt interference can do wonders. The cricket board should actually be a role model for the rest of the sporting bodies.

Don't blame cricket for the demise of any other sport.
 

Ray

The Chairman
Professional
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Messages
43,132
Likes
23,834
Hockey was killed the day the politicians entered the field.

In fact, all games and sport has been killed where the politicians have entered the field.

And interestingly, most politicians who are in the sports bodies have no idea of the game and have no idea of the challenges at the competitive level.
 

Ray

The Chairman
Professional
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Messages
43,132
Likes
23,834
If the cricket world cup saw packed stands at the India matches, the Indian Premier League (IPL) T20 tournament, which began barely a week later, was a study in contrast. Many games were played before a handful of spectators, with the first playoff, between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), epitomising the disinterest. The match, played in Mumbai, was a semi-final of sorts with the winner going straight to the final. However, the 33,000-capacity stadium was only half full. It was a familiar sight during many matches. The tepid interest extended to television as well. TAM Sports' data for the top six metros reveals that this year's final recorded average viewership of 6.96 is the lowest in IPL history. (The rating means that 6.96% of all viewers watched the full match.) The tournament itself got a TAM rating of 3.91, also the lowest till date.

To be fair, there were many factors behind the decline in the league's popularity this year. For starters, fans had had an overdose of cricket during the ICC World Cup itself. That tournament featured 14 teams and saw 49 matches played over 45 days. It didn't help that the IPL began immediately after and was even longer, thanks to the addition of two more teams. It ran for nearly two months and had 74 matches. Moreover, many teams had new line-ups and it took fans a while to get used to them. "The fact that auctions were held in January and new teams were put together within a matter of a few weeks gave no opportunity for any team to go out and build affinity with local fans," says Sean Morris, CEO, Rajasthan Royals.

Fan fatigue does not bode well for the IPL's franchises at a time when they are looking to build additional revenue streams. Each year, there's a flurry of activity just before and during the IPL, after which there is a lull. But if the franchises are to become financially viable over the long term, they need to engage with fans all through the year. For a start, this will ensure that stadiums aren't empty. It will also boost merchandise sales, ticketing revenue and attract more sponsors.

More at:

business.outlookindia.com | Beyond The Boundary
Now, IPL bowls over football!
A STAFF REPORTER

Calcutta: The difference between cricket and soccer may be as wide as the Grand Canyon, but the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to bridge the gap! Though not directly, Indian soccer is ready to take inspiration from IPL's popularity and prosperity to revamp the status of the game in this part of the world.

The Celebrity Management Group (CMG), who gave the city one of its proudest moments when they hosted Diego Maradona in 2008, has joined hands with the Indian Football Association (IFA) to launch the Premier League Soccer (PLS) — an IPL-style franchise driven football tournament.

Though the idea is not unique, the initiative surely packs a promising potential. In a bid to plaster the worn-out reputation of Indian soccer and infuse professionalism, the Bengal-based PLS has been planned to add the much-needed zing to the game. And if one is to believe the organisers, players of international repute and high-class coaches will be fine-tuning the X-factor.

For the league, initially, six franchises will be chosen through competitive bidding for a period of 10 years. The six franchise towns selected are Calcutta, Howrah, Barasat, Asansol, Midnapore and Siliguri. The duration of the tournament, which is approved by the All India Football Federation, will be around seven weeks and the maiden edition will be held in January-March 2012.

With names such as former Dutch World Cupper Edgar Davids and Japanese icon Junichi Inamoto doing the rounds, football's own IPL will certainly not be short on star power. Among the coaches, Philippe Troussier, who has managed Japan, Nigeria and South Africa at the international stage, is ready to add his expertise to the project.

More at:
The Telegraph - Calcutta (Kolkata) | Sports | Now, IPL bowls over football!
It is a good thing that other games are going to give cricket a run for its money!
 

GPM

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
1,507
Likes
522
Gill is not the only culprit. sports Min, SAI too did their lot. Take Azlan Shah cup coaching camp. It was held in National Stadium, N Delhi. No swimming pool, no gym, no facilities for other games like billiards etc. for relaxing. Patiala and Pune have far better infrastructures.

Take this year's national hockey. Players packed in rooms like sardines, just Rs 200 for diet, that too who knows WHEN. After hue and cry it was raised by 50%. Transport? Jam packed buses.

Compare with what BCCI gives to players. Star hotels, board lodging bills paid, comfortable coaches for transport. Treat hockey stars like that, did BCCI stop the powers that be? If Govt has its ways, it will control BCCI, and cricket too will be killed.
 

Yusuf

GUARDIAN
Super Mod
Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
24,324
Likes
11,757
Country flag
Gill is not the only culprit. sports Min, SAI too did their lot. Take Azlan Shah cup coaching camp. It was held in National Stadium, N Delhi. No swimming pool, no gym, no facilities for other games like billiards etc. for relaxing. Patiala and Pune have far better infrastructures.

Take this year's national hockey. Players packed in rooms like sardines, just Rs 200 for diet, that too who knows WHEN. After hue and cry it was raised by 50%. Transport? Jam packed buses.

Compare with what BCCI gives to players. Star hotels, board lodging bills paid, comfortable coaches for transport. Treat hockey stars like that, did BCCI stop the powers that be? If Govt has its ways, it will control BCCI, and cricket too will be killed.
Exactly my point. Don't blame BCCI for the ruins other sports find themselves in. It's the "state" handling that has ruined it.

Still BCCI has interested many politicians that's why Pawar tried his luck and succeeded. Lalu too was interested. But still no govt interference means the board despite all the criticism still leads a bunch of world champs and billions in the bank.

The ICC has taken the right step in passing the resolution of distancing politicians from member boards otherwise they will be derecognized. It's a welcome step to prevent at least in the sub continent the take over of the cricket boards. Look what's happening in Pak and SL. They are in a major crises. Pak has other issues too.

All in all, say no to govt interference in sports.
 

Sabir

DFI TEAM
Senior Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2009
Messages
2,116
Likes
793
What did kill Indian Hockey?

1) Astro turf

It was introduced in Europe in 1970s and that is the time when decline of Indian hockey started. We often complain that modern days Indian players are far inferior to our hockey legends. But it is not true. Rather modern players are much ahead in terms of fitness and speed. One can say about skills and stickworks. But the fact is, even it would have not been possible for our legends to show similar skill if they were asked to play on astro turf. Why so? Because, in astro turf ball moves significantly faster than it does on a grass surface. So to maintain same skill level players have to have super human ability in terms of speed, agility and fitness. So, a player who can show breath taking stick work on a grass surface can be a utter failure on an astro turf. Simply because, a normal human does not have enough agility to reproduce that skill when the ball is moving so fast.I am confident it is true even for legend like Dhyan Chand.

2) Hockey Administration , Coaches etc

Simply they failed to provide necessary infrastructure especially enough number of astro turfs so that our boys can be familiar with the surface from the beginning. The coaches- who were reputed players on their own days fail to understand what change they need in style to compete with the European teams. They try to stick with our traditional style which is obsolete in era of astro turf. Indians are not physically comparable to the Europeans in terms of stamina, speed, strength. To overcome these problems you need to necessary infrastructure, training , food supliments for boys etc. Our Hockey federation is simply a failure in this regard.

3) Lack of public interst. You just can blame cricket. If you dont have any international success for three decades how can you will generate public interest.


Solutions-

1) Identify schools which can provide necessary space and build them astro turfs and other infrastructures. Recruite hockey players (say who have played in state levels) as instructors.

2)Invest to make the professional league successful, bring foreign stars,create hype (learn from IPL)....Make provincial teams so that they all have supporter base (arising from affection to home team)...

3) Be sure that it is not possible to return to our glorious days with similar style (I have already explained that). Adopt to the style of the Europeans or the Australians from the Junior level. If necessary bring foreign coaches and physical trainers for junior players too.
 
Last edited:

Sabir

DFI TEAM
Senior Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2009
Messages
2,116
Likes
793
@ Ray Sir...there is now lot of money in Indian football. Mohun Bagan has signed one player (though foreigner) for 2 crore. Pune FC asking for 1 crore transfer fee for their star goalkeeper Subrata Paul. East Bengal signed 19 years old Robin Singh from Tata Football Academy for 50 Lakh......

Ex captain of Argentina Pablo Sorin has signed agreement to play in PLS. Dempo was trying to get Ortega, East Bengal trying for Nuno Gomej.....Out U16 team is kept in a US Academy for several months...expect some rapid changes in Indian football in coming days.
 

sob

Mod
Joined
May 4, 2009
Messages
6,425
Likes
3,805
Country flag
People who say that Indian hockey is dead should have been at the National stadium last year to witness the world cup. I was privileged to watch 4 matches including the semis. As I could not get tickets for the finals missed it.

For all those present at the stadium the presence of school kids enjoying the matches was very exhilarating. To revive hockey we need to kick out the politicians and babus. Also we need to restart the domestic competitions which were stopped by the super cop Mr.Gill. We need more astronomer turfs and we need to send our teams to more international matches to gain experience by playing with the best in the world.
 

Blackwater

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2012
Messages
21,157
Likes
12,211
Culprits who destroy indian hockey

1) Cricket
2) KPS Gill
3) Commercialism
4)Corporate culture
5) Media
6 Consumerism
7) corruption
 

Adux

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
4,022
Likes
1,707
Country flag
How about Indians, they killed it. Why blame others. Indians killed it because there werent enough people who came forward to support it in the Stadiums. Simple. Indians always blame everything on others. We are just bored of it, dont think it is fun.
 

GPM

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
1,507
Likes
522
What did kill Indian Hockey?

1) Astro turf

It was introduced in Europe in 1970s and that is the time when decline of Indian hockey started. ... So, a player who can show breath taking stick work on a grass surface can be a utter failure on an astro turf. Simply because, a normal human does not have enough agility to reproduce that skill when the ball is moving so fast.I am confident it is true even for legend like Dhyan Chand.
Like it or not, artificial surfaces are superior to natural grounds. And they are the norm. They reduce uneven bounce, which can be dangerous.

The only radical change is about penality corner. Earlier the ball was stopped with hand, now it has to done with stick. Under earlier rules, Asians dominated as they had well oiled specialists. When young, even I was very good at stopping. Got to be fast, else the striker could break your hand.

Unfortunately even after 35 years, Indians have not re-mastered penality corner.

2) Hockey Administration , Coaches etc

Simply they failed to provide necessary infrastructure especially enough number of astro turfs so that our boys can be familiar with the surface from the beginning. The coaches- who were reputed players on their own days fail to understand what change they need in style to compete with the European teams. They try to stick with our traditional style which is obsolete in era of astro turf. Indians are not physically comparable to the Europeans in terms of stamina, speed, strength. To overcome these problems you need to necessary infrastructure, training , food supliments for boys etc. Our Hockey federation is simply a failure in this regard.
players cannot break the traditional obsoleteies, unles our coaches can. And who appoints these coaches? Not BCCI. Lala. If coaching is handed over to BCCI they will produce a world beater in 5 years, even if Parthiv Patel is made the goalie.. Potential is already there.

3) Lack of public interst. You just can blame cricket. If you dont have any international success for three decades how can you will generate public interest.
Sure. No one goes to applaud the LOSERS.


Solutions-

1) Identify schools which can provide necessary space and build them astro turfs and other infrastructures. Recruite hockey players (say who have played in state levels) as instructors.
Do you know Shahbad Markanda, Haryana, is a power house of womens hockry? Recall Chak De? Komal Chautala IS a player of hockey, even with her small stature. Her role was played by Chitrashi Rawat, but modelled after a REAL one.

2)Invest to make the professional league successful, bring foreign stars,create hype (learn from IPL)....Make provincial teams so that they all have supporter base (arising from affection to home team)...
Right now, Hockey India has not enough funds even tom print the brochures for those activities. MIONEY? It comes with SUCCESS. La la la. Chess is not glamorous, but it has lots of sponsors.



3) Be sure that it is not possible to return to our glorious days with similar style (I have already explained that). Adopt to the style of the Europeans or the Australians from the Junior level. If necessary bring foreign coaches and physical trainers for junior players too.
Our players, coaches HAVE to change and adapt. They can too.
 
Last edited:

GPM

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
1,507
Likes
522
Culprits who destroy indian hockey

1) Cricket
2) KPS Gill
3) Commercialism
4)Corporate culture
5) Media
6 Consumerism
7) corruption
Did cricket launch an anti-hockey campagian or is it success that you bjealous of?

Rot started way back in sixties when Ashwini Kumar and Nagarwala were in control.

Who stopped hockey from being commercial? Rugby, soccer, baseball and and basket ball etc are commercial.

Corporate culture was adopted by BCCI long ago. Who stopped hockey bosses?

Media are out for TRPs. Why should they be interested in losers like Team Hockey and not winners like Team Cricket?

Who stopped hockey "stars" from appearing in ads? Cricket players?

Yeah. Corruption in govt and sports admins.
 

GPM

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
1,507
Likes
522
How about Indians, they killed it. Why blame others. Indians killed it because there werent enough people who came forward to support it in the Stadiums. Simple. Indians always blame everything on others. We are just bored of it, dont think it is fun.
Do you know that Team Hockey is free from match fixing charges? La la. Who will think of fixing a match for the LOSERS?
 

GPM

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
Mar 5, 2011
Messages
1,507
Likes
522
I am saddened. I my teens I too was a hockey player. I sustained a grievious injury while stopping for a penality corner. A searing hit broke my wrist and retired at 17 years. Hitter was faster than I was. Just one mistake in 3 years and I was disheartned. After all I was preparing for IIT Entrance Exam. Maybe such accidents prompted a change in the rule. But vI was, in fact, repulsed by the game. My purely personal reasons.
 

theyouthexpress

New Member
Joined
Sep 28, 2011
Messages
1
Likes
0
I think Cricket, Corruption & Media killed the national game i.e Hockey in India....Am I true guys??? Share your opinions with me...
 

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top