Air India v Indian Oil...

Tournament: 8th All India Guru Tegh Bahadur Gold Cup Tournament
Venue: Maharashtra Hockey Association, Mahindra Stadium
Match: Finals, Air India v Indian Oil.
On field noteable points: A treat to watch, reportedly. Trailing 0-3, Air India fought back to come to 4-4 in the 68th minute. With Pillays, Tirkeys,Baljits, Adrians, Chikaras, Shivendras, Raghunaths and both side mostly star packed, I am sure it must be entertaining. A controversial penalty corner awarded to Air India in the dying minutes sealed the fate for Indian Oil. They lost 4-5 to Air India.
It is said that the match had some poor umpiring decisions.

Off field notable points: Indian Oil Coach Devesh Chauhan didn't show up on the presentation ceremony citing heavy dissatisfaction on the umpiring.

My take: Bad umpiring, definitely, favours 1 team and doesn't the other one. If you are on the receiving end, on one fine day, does it overtake sportsman spirit?

Indian Hockey is bleeding...is there a doctor around?

There is a lot to compare Pakistan politics and Indian Hockey.

There, first an Army General throws out a powerful President and then suspends the Parliament to rule the country in a dictatorial manner. Then, some people gather to throw him out of power, in which eventually they succeed. This keeps going on and on... No one cares about the people, democracy or how the nation stands in the World.

And that is where it draws huge similarities with Indian Hockey. Pakistan is far behind rest of the World economically, politically and all other '..ally' and India is far behind everyone in Field Hockey.

One sacks second, second goes to court. Now, neither 1 nor 2 can work. 2's administration was autocratic. 1's is even pathetic. There are too many 1's in the fray. The story goes on and on.... None of them are really concerned about Hockey, country or the sport as such.

Even those who held the stick once for the country are still stuck with desires of more glory not to the game but to themselves. Apart from the adhoc committee members, one such biggest culprit is Sri. Dhanraj Pillay!

I sometimes feel that media doesn't speak about him but there is a time when we all have to accept that fact that a magician with stick may not be the greatest person in formal dress in a board room. It's high time we understand who is suited for what position.

The first thing that you expect from a player turned selector is he will not repeat the things that he kept crying for years when he was a player. But the biggest dissappointment in the adhoc committee is Dhanraj Pillay. Drop Tirkey, Thakur and Halappa and he may be getting some sadistic pleasure to see their 'come back promise' article in the newspaper.

1 person who could think beyond all such stalwarts is Viren Rasquinha. Peacefully gave up National level Hockey when politics beat his game, and is pursuing an MBA in one of the reputed institutes in Hyderabad. I wonder will he ever think of turning a Sports Adminstrator. His matured approach, technical brilliance clubbed with his managerial skills can create wonders in the admin section of the Bleeding sport.

Daily when I browse all the newspapers, I see Goa, Nagpur, Srinagar, Mumbai, Imphal, Shillong, Mysore, Bangalore, Vishakhapatnam, Trichi hosting Hockey Tournament in their capacity. Howeverwhen you sum up how much media coverage junk political developments get with regards to Hockey, it pains. Take a shot at this:

Tamil Nadu Hockey Association: 2 associations fighting as who is genuine.

Super Division League in Karnataka: Called off from Coorg because of red-tapism. Being hosted in SAI, Kengeri, Bangalore. Believe me, there is not even a bench there for a spectator.

Kaushik goes back to IWHF and Harender Singh may be the new coach: Kaushik saheb, in all his years with Haryana Sports Dept. didn't know about the procedures and believed the adhoc committee ppl. Made a fool of himself.

Gill calls IOA a fake organization: Oh, dear o dear! It's as fake as your IHF was. You both specialize in mastering the democratic system to remain in power for years uncountable.

Tripartite contest for who will be in power: Gill, is on one side. Second, is the Sahara tycoon. Third, is Kalmadi and company.

These news rule Hockey's media reputation. Come to me and ask me for a penny in the name of Hockey. Guess what will I give?

Then they cry that media is Cricket obsessed and corporates don't sponser anyone but Cricket. I feel they deserve what they are getting.Is anyone observing: Football people have taken massive 'professional' steps. Indian Football is slowly on it's way to make a mark in World Football. Last night NDTV was interviewing Bhutia and Chhetri. It's a perfect symbolic gesture that the sport is catching up.

Our country is craving for an alternate team Sport and Football ppl are progressing in leaps and bounds. They have a foriegn coach as well.Football is ready to cash upon what Hockey has more or less lost and is desperately trying to loose the rest.

Sadly, time and again, I am reminded of what Charlesworth said when he left ...