Crisis in Indian Hockey

Let us analyze why and how Indian Hockey has degraded from being the National Sport of India to the point where players had to pose a strike in order to remind of the neglect of the game to us.

First of all let's start from 1952 when India used to be the champion in the grass-hockey. The wizardry of Indian hockey men were proven in Moscow Olympics and the next 5 consecutive Olympic games, where India had bagged 6 gold medals in all. But gradually because of nationalization of the game or so to say the politicization of the game has contributed towards its neglect.

To start with causes of the degradation, the first is the inability to adapt to the turf hockey of the administration. The decisions to delay the introduction of synthetic turfs in Hockey games nation wide contributed to the incompetence of Indian Hockey men. This has contributed towards bad performance of India in major championships.

Secondly, inappropriate payment of dues to hockey players has caused players to languish in necessary resources for survival. The overall mismanagement of food and pay has contributed at national level is utterly regrettable. If an Indian cricket player can get a better package while playing as 12th man where he rests most of the time, then how come a hockey player can't get his dues while he is playing at a national level?

Thirdly the lack of fund management of hockey administrators reflects their lack of passion to keep the national sport alive. If Cricket board can go ahead and arrange IPL with major nations then why can't the hockey board is lagging behind in this? And most importantly perhaps the administration needs to do some self-introspection in where they need to spend the funds : by giving fringe benefits to executives or to fulfill the basic facilities of the players who play for the nation?

The last and most importantly is public and media's apathy towards the game. Why shouldn't parents train their people to become like Dhanraj Pillay or Baljit Singh and instead send their children to follow steps of Dhoni? There is perhaps a lack of motivation in playing for nation in hockey whereas satisfaction even playing in state level cricket matches. The only players playing in the national hockey team are the ones who have struggled hard to follow their passions. And the utter way they have been treated is pathetic !.

The only thing that can save indian hockey is the change in attitude of its management and the public and media interest in the game. Perhaps the management can follow cricket board in how they have revamped their selection process and fund management.