IOA plans interviews for Indian Hockey Coach

Indian Olympics Association (IOA),which has been taking care of the dissolved Indian Hockey Federation(IHF), has announced that it will conduct 'walk-in' interviews for coaches for Indian Hockey team.
This step, I feel, should bring in some appreciation from the Hockey intelligensia.
What it means?
It means that from hereonwards, coaches will not be appointed/dropped at the whims and fantasies of the adminstrators. This, I feel, is a step towards a process oriented approach. How transparently process is implemented comes later on.
Atleast, the people who apply for the post will have to think before they apply for the post. Also, there will be more transparency as to who are the front runners for the post. Moreover, the administrators will have point out 'logical points' why they chose one and rejected others.

Overall, I welcome this step and see it the begining of:
1) Transparency
2) Process oriented approach
3) Better accountability from both sides - the administrators and the coaches.
Contract system is something that I wait for as this good news sinks in....

Olympians-Explained in Indian Hockey context

What's the difference between
Aslam Sher Khan and Ric Charlesworth?
Sandeep Singh and Taeke TAEKEMA?
Pargat Singh and Bevan George?
They all are "Olympians" but the only difference is one has not won an Olympic medal whereas other one has.
Whereas I have full respect for all players who represented the country at any point of time, I feel the nomenclature should be appropraite and what one really deserves.
I thought of something like:
Players' name (n O)
where
n: is the number of Gold medals won in Olympics
So, how about:
Olympian Aslam Sher Khan (0 O)
Olympian Dhanraj Pillay (o O)
Olympian V Bhaskaran (1 O)
Olympian Pargat Singh (0 O)
Olympian Balbir Singh(3 O)
Olympian Ashish Ballal (0 O)
Olympian A B Subbaiah (o O)
Olympian Zafar Iqbal (1 O)
Olympian Ajit Pal Singh (0 O)
...........................................the list can go on.
If you don't agree, you can suggest one to me..!
Today's generations' memory is only till the time they saw something in front of them or LIVE on TV. So, the above terminology is open to further proposed update....

Decline of Indian Hockey Administration....

Kal kuch rahe na rahe .... I am sure, Hockey will be played in Punjab, Haryana, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bhopal and Maharashtra. People who play a sport mostly play for their pleasure. 10 years later, you will still have a Diwakar Ram. So, what is declining ...? .... it's only Indian Hockey adminstration.

When the Junior Asia Cup should have got all the attention, the media is focussing on:

1) Whether or not Gill will give back the trophy or not?

2) Opinions of all "Bhartiya Hockey ke Shubh Chintak", with regards to Charlesworth episode.

3) How India is about to loose being the host to the World Cup 2010.

4) What may happen in the last 3 days of the tournament when the FIH officials come in.

5) Then, to top it all, we have comment from Balbir Singh, Sr.

Sometimes, I find it embarrasing to tell my friends that I am a Hockey fan. Just being polite to me, they don't ask me but their eyes say it all, "What is there to be a fan of it?".

The beauty of democracy is, "Right to opinion". Doesn't matter whether you have the facts or figures but if you have an opinion, there is always a platform to voice it and then reach out to the world. MS Gill, Sher Khan, Md. Aslam, Pargat Singh. You name one person and they always have an "opinion" based on everything but facts and figures.

If, without watching a movie, people can file PILs saying that this movie is portraying someone in bad light OR without knowing anything about Nuclear deal, Mayawati can say it is anti-Muslim, then I feel Balbir Singh or Pargat Singh or for that matter MS Gill can say whatever is their 'opinion'.

The sad portion comes when this "opinion" reflects the "attitude" of the admininstrators. Aslam Sher Khan, the chief of ad-hoc Selection Committee, has announced that India is in need of a Coach! .... Oops, Charlesworth leave just now or else we would have had one. No worries, the post is open now!

Sher Khan saheb, my question to you: "Did you watch 1 match of Champions Trophy?". The Eurpoeans and Kookaburas have gone far beyond Indian Hockey! I hope atleast 1 person, whom you would believe, must have told you that.

OK, let's see it from another perspective! If you feel that Indian Hockey will be back to "those days", then you will have to beat Netherlands, Australia, Argentina, Germany, Spain and last but not the least, Great Britain! How can we do that?

1) Have an extensive analysis of their game! - by watching their game, their players, recording matches and then do a technical dissection of each and every individuals' game.If we can't do this, we can't beat them. Indeed, we don't do any of those.

2) A team of coaches visit the whole World and see how innovative methodology is being used to develop the sport in leaps and bounds. Then, implement it. Indeed, we don't do any of it.

3) That leaves us what they did to us. They came to us to learn. Let's do that. There is no harm in learning, right? If you don't like what they teach, just discard it! But let's see what secrets they have got to share with us. The foriegners are medal winners, they will surely ask for money. Balbir Singh ji, "Kisi se kuch seekhne ko mile, ismein tou koi buraayi nahin hai na?"

A lot of well-known people say that,"Indian Hockey needs to start from scratch" or "Indian Hockey needs some 5 years to recover".

My question is,

What is road map of the same?

What are the milestones?
What is the interim plan for the failures?

What's the plan to measure the success of the road map?

Here's another take: Every team (in any sport) that is ranked no. 1 in the World or "wins" (please read it as "wins" only) some prestigious tournaments has a model on which they work for atleast an year. It's always something which is innovative and when the World comes to know about it, they learn from it. Let's see it the reverse way, do we have some innovative model on which we work?

If you see it from a different angle, Balbir Singh is a honest person. Atleast, he said his mind. Others, first create a situation where they leave others with no options, and finally while facing the media, they say, "We wanted people to work with us, but they left in haste."

Indian Hockey is in more news (for whatever reasons) than it was before Gill and Jothikumaran were shown the door.
To all "Shubh Chintak of Bhartiya Hockey": Just remember, Gill is watching ... and I am sure he must smiling at all of you.....because you are continuing his (destructive) work!

Bremen 4 nation Women Hockey, Germany

The following are the results to Bremen Four Nation Women Hockey Tournament, Germany, 4-6 July 2008.
4th July:
Korea v USA: 5-3
1:0 Seon Ok Lee (PC, 5.)
1:1 Keli Smith (11.)
2:1 Young Ran Kim (12.)
-----------------
2:2 Tiffany Snow (PC, 40.)
2:3 Tiffany Snow (45.)
3:3 Sung Hee Gim (PC, 53.)
4:3 Seon Ok Lee (PC, 57.)
5:3 Mi Hyun Park (PC, 59.)
Germany v India: 7-2
1:0 Maike Stöckel (17.)
2:0 Anke Kühn (32.)
----------------------
3:0 Maike Stöckel (40.)
3:1 Rani (46.)
4:1 Janine Beermann (47.)
4:2 Chanchan Thockchom (48.)
5:2 Katharina Scholz (58.)
6:2 Eileen Hoffmann (62.)
7:2 Natascha Keller (63.)
5th July:
Korea v Germany: 2-2
1:0 Maike Stöckel (26.)
2:0 Tina Bachmann (31.)
----------------------
2:1 Mi Seon Kim (42.)
2:2 Sung Hee Gim (PC, 63.)
USA v India: 1-1
0:1 Surinder Kaur (PC, 4.)
1:1 Kelly Doton (PC, 32.)
6th July:
Korea v India: 9-2
1:0 Seon Ok Lee (PC, 18.)
2:0 Jeong Sook Park (19.)
2:1 Rani (21.)
3:1 Seon Ok Lee (PC, 28.)
-----------------
4:1 Mi Young Eum (41.)
5:1 Seon Ok Lee (PC, 43.)
6:1 Mi Seon Kim (48.)
7:1 Da Rae Kim (58.)
8:1 Sung Hee Gim (PC, 60.)
8:2 Subhadra Pradhan (63.)
9:2 Sung Hee Gim (PC, 70.)
Germany v USA: 7-2
1:0 Anke Kühn (PC, 1.)
2:0 Fanny Rinne (PC, 10.)
3:0 Eileen Hoffmann (26.)
4:0 Natascha Keller (31.)
----------------------
4:1 Carrie Lingo (50.)
5:1 Eileen Hoffmann (60.)
6:1 Janine Beermann (62.)
6:2 Tiffany Snow (63.)
7:2 Natascha Keller (69.)
Final Standings:
1. Germany
2. Korea
3. USA
4. India

Source: http://www.usfieldhockey.com/results/women/2008/wnt_germany_fournations.html
http://www.bremenhockey.de/VVI-web/default.asp?lokal=BRE

yet again murmurs....

I was always told by my parents, "Beta, clear IIT-JEE exam and that will make your life."
Getting into IIT is one thing and then continously evolving from there is something completely different. It took a while to understand that.
I always wonder, a lot of people in Hockey circles must have told others: "Just visit Olympics, don't worry about 'medals' and that will make your life"
Whether or not you learn to coach after that or if at all you watch any international matches or did you actually win any medals in Olympics or how quickly have moved on in "Hockey Technology" or what have you contributed at the grass root levels, doesn't really matter. What you achieved 10 .. or 20 .. or may be, 30 years back, will keep getting you glory forever.
That is where our Indian Hockey is .... still cashing on that glory..!!

Ric Charlesworth says in one of the TV interviews:
I think you have to keep learning from your opponents. This was one of the greatest mistakes that India made.

He hasn't left anything to imagination. He has literally made our Hockey stark naked, by saying the above line.
Anyhow .. let's talk something else ..
Once I had gone to one of the IIMs and there one of the very learned professors told something like, "How about trying to write your own obituary?". Different idea, for sure!
I was quite enthused and wrote it and went to the professor in a minute. She smiled and told me, "This is fine but I want you to put a little thought into it and think that when people read it, what is it that they will remember about you? So, think of your qualities that you wish to be remembered for."
I thought about it and realized the depth of the exercise.
Many a times, some of us, live for ourselves and fail to take some selfless decisions.
A lot of us can benefit from this exercise, including Hockey professionals!
There is no harm in attending a few courses at one of the IIMs...!

Azlan Shah SILVER and Sandeep Singh

Last week, it was a wonderful show of courage, determination and, of course, Hockey. After Chile disaster, and not so encouraging performances in Australia in 4 nation series in Perth and Darwin, it was yet again disastrous start for India in 17th Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia. When they went down to Newzealand and Argentina, all felt that it may be the same story in a row.
But then straight victories against Canada, Belgium, Pakistan and Malaysia saw Indians contesting for the Gold Medal. Pakistan, who put up a wonderful show by winning 3 and 1 draw, lost their 5th match against Belgium. In their last match, they went down to India by 1-2. The last this happened in Azlan Shah was in 1991.

India had already won everyone's heart by reaching the finals. Full credit to their valiant performance in the final, India managed a SILVER and has silenced everyone. We all are seeing a ray of hope when it comes to the turf game.
A close friend remarked surprisingly, "An invitational tournament and a SILVER! Looks like the expectations are very low! Thats why you too look so happy". He was right. Possibly, my (or in this matter, everyone's) expecatations are low from the team.
But I feel that all the players and staff deserve a pat on the back after what they did in Ipoh, Malaysia. However, I wish to express few things that we may be forgetting in this happiness:

1) Slap shot conversion and defense on that shot is something we are weak on. All the instances where we failed to convert and ones where we conceeded, needs to be analyzed.
2) There is a popular saying, "Too many cooks spoil the broth". I wonder the former brilliant defender, Pargat Singh, is suited for a "Manager" role. I feel his services can better be utilised with a technical post.
3) A team full of junior players stands 2nd in Azlan Shah (and not-qualified for Olympics Argentines grab GOLD). All other 4 Olympic qualified teams, who travel to Beijing, feature down the list. I see something missing in Olympics Field Hockey category as far as competitiveness is concerned. I hope FIH took note of the developments in Azlan Shah.
4) Few days back, Ramesh Parmeshwaran was featured in an article in leading dailies in Bangalore and was given 40% space on the page! All through the Azlan Shah tournament the sports section never got that much space as that one Parmeshwaran article got. What is given more importance in Hockey, a tournament or out of arena people, is something I keep thinking about!

Last but not least, Sandeep Singh gave a statement today that the last regime did this ..that ... blah .. blah!! Sandeep Singh is one of the best drag flicker in the World, no doubts! He proved it with the stick in his hand in Malaysia! A verbal outburst can be avoided in this case, I felt.
Hockey management can brainstorm on the idea of a media manager and code of conduct for players to avoid such happenings. It affects the image of Hockey and it affects badly, sadly!

Negative and unneccesary avoidable media coverage is another reason why Hockey fails to connect with people. There is a need for players staying positive when it comes to Media communication. When Sandeep Singh says something about the previous regime, we say, "Yeah, Hockey is like this only." To improve the popularity and image of the game, you can showcase the victories, positive points better. Cribbing about the past, results only in negative publicity of the game and, unfortunately, this is what Hockey boasts off!

P.S.:
Sandeep Singh ji, my 2 cents on what you said: It's easy to comment on history. Keep inspiring us with your on-turf activities!

Curtains for the Gill and Jothikumaran era ...

I have been obsessed by events that mark the closing of an era in the existence of human kind, hence the title.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) yesterday gave out the strongest message to all Sporting Associations by dissolving the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) following grave corruption charges on it's Secretary.
IOA was under tremendous pressure from Federation of International Hockey (FIH) to intervene in the Hockey affairs of the country or else be prepared with dire consequences of 1) loosing the hosting of World Cup in 2010 and 2) De-recognizing of IHF by FIH. That would have meant Hockey doesn't exist in India when it comes to World Hockey.

Suresh Kalmadi, President, IOA, declared the decision and has appointed a team of 5 classy former international players to form the selection committee and assured a democratic set up (via elections) within 6 months.
At last, without much dispute, most of the Hockey circle people are jubiliant! Be it any reason, everyone 'hated' the whole system that. (Many were a part of that system and what did one do to clean it up is debateable). Alas, Chile debacle, World Cup 2010 withdrawl threat, International Hockey body intervention and a TV Channel sting operation proved conducive in the clean up work.

But I feel, this marks the start of tuftest times for Hockey.
There is lot of chance that history of 1994 is repeated. It was a low time when the supercop took over (democratically) and started reforming various aspects of the game. Few years later, it became a (power) game that had concern for everything in it but Hockey.

Here are my 2 cents on the future:

1) Get everything on paper.
2) Put up a thorough democratic system in place that cannot be exploited by power-hungry people. Have tenure and responsibilities fixed for all posts.
3) Do a short term, mid long term and long term planning for the game.
4) Develop a contract system for all the players and coaches. Put up things like: Code of Conduct, Match fees, Contract fees and things that bring across more credibility to the system.
5) Wake up all the de-funct State Associations and tighten up the screws if they don't perform.
6) Take steps to encourage Hockey at the grass root levels.
7) Take up and promote 'professionalism' in this game. For this, the people in power have to refrain from character assasination, personalised remarks on each other, forget the idea of punishing the people in the past and above all, learn to MOVE ON!
8) Second, just because a person has played great Hockey in his times doesn't entitle him to be a Sports Adminstrator! So, weigh people professionaly and not emotionally! There are ways to get the best of each one but don't put them in positions where they don't fit in.
9) Lastly, If you don't have any other model to work on, there is nothing wrong in learning from an existing successful model, Cricket.