We have grown as a country, at least in our thinking.
In 1982, the finals of Men's Hockey, at the same venue - Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium - Pakistan thrashed India 7-1 in almost the same fashion as Australia did today, at least as per the score line.
So, it's almost the same finish as that of 1982 Asiad Hockey Finals? Then, why didn't we find one villain in Bharat Kumar Chetri today?
Take the example of today's CWG 2010 Hockey final between Ind and Aus.
Before CWG 2010, 1982 Asiad was the last grand sporting event India has hosted.
In 1982, the finals of Men's Hockey, at the same venue - Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium - Pakistan thrashed India 7-1 in almost the same fashion as Australia did today, at least as per the score line.
I don't know, they say India choked under pressure. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi turning up to watch the match dented their mental balance. The forward line couldn't score. The defense gave the opposition too many chances. Hell fell loose on Indian Hockey that day. (That is another topic that recent victory of India over Pakistan 7-4 has been termed, by many, as a revenge after 28 years.)
When a team loses, you can't blame individual players for that. But, we being a country which likes to find villains in any debacle around us, found one on that day - Mir Ranjan Negi, the Indian Goalkeeper. The nation owes it to him for what it did to him then and thereafter.
Today, none other than Dr. Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi were present in the stadium.
We got royally thrashed by 8-0. The agony was such that with 8s to spare, Australia utilized it and scored their last goal of the match beating the whole defense comprehensively. We couldn't penetrate their circle; if we did they cleared it comfortably. Often they came in our sacred circle and went back contended. Call it whatever, India failed in all departments.
India has shown a lot of character in this tournament. Beating Pakistan, and then England, India has shown that they are willingly taking a baby step forward in World Hockey.
Yes, within a matter of few days, the expectations went very high. Although, thinking rationally India hardly had a chance in today's finals - Baring a couple of upsets, Australia has beaten everyone in the 2 years with huge margins and has not lost any tournament either - but the fans of the home team wanted just a bit more than silver.
Had India just replicated their performance against England of the other day, it would have been a very different looking score today.
Anyhow, we just didn't lose, we lost without putting up a fight that any event Finals deserve.
So, it's almost the same finish as that of 1982 Asiad Hockey Finals? Then, why didn't we find one villain in Bharat Kumar Chetri today?
One may argue that those days the passion for Hockey was very high, hence the emotions ran very high, hence the desperation to crucify one individual.
To that I would say if it was a packed stadium that day, today it was an even more packed stadium - the capacity of the renovated stadium is much more. Today, a lot of people who wouldn't follow Hockey otherwise kept track of what was happening in today's match. Today is the last day of CWG 2010 and India is in close contest with England for the 2nd position in medal tally must have contributed to that interest surely.
To that I would say if it was a packed stadium that day, today it was an even more packed stadium - the capacity of the renovated stadium is much more. Today, a lot of people who wouldn't follow Hockey otherwise kept track of what was happening in today's match. Today is the last day of CWG 2010 and India is in close contest with England for the 2nd position in medal tally must have contributed to that interest surely.
So, one can't argue that Hockey was not being followed by as many people as those days. Passion was certainly running very high, today.
I tend to believe that one big leap India has taken in its 'thinking' has been after Delhi World Cup 2010. Everyone saw in front of their eyes where World Hockey has reached. Previously if people used to say, "They (players) don't play well, haar ke aate hain har jagah", they now say, "We are far behind in World Hockey."
Going by our expectations, which we attach to every sporting event in which India participates, I would say we got thoroughly thrashed in the World Cup (winning only 1 match, against Pakistan). However, very interestingly, following the World Cup, I didn't read in any newspapers for a long time that India fared poorly. Most of the voices almost emphasized: In the World Hockey exhibition, there is a long way to go for us.
So, say thanks to the World Cup for bringing change to our mindset or call it progressive thinking or you may say we have moved on from our past, but one thing remains for sure, Chetri not being crucified after today's game is a very healthy sign in Indian Hockey, both for its fraternity and it's fans.
We have started to accept that our team didn’t play well. We are certainly moving forward...
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