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?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
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 ...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
To MK Kaushik- Indian Hockey Team Coach
Dear Kaushik Saheb,
It's nice to see that you have been appointed the chief of the national team. No hesitation in expressing the fact that I wanted to see Ric Charlesworth in this hot seat but Ric's departure is history now.
You and Ric have teamed up well in your Women’s Hockey assignment.You have been a person who has been very open to making use of Ric Charlesworth’s expertise.
By the same token, I hope you remember, according to him, the mistakes that we have been committing.I quote a few related to Hockey, on field, per say:
1) Indian hockey cannot run on anecdotes, there has to be some reality.
2) The first thing they should do is to accept their mistakes and not make excuses and then go about rectifying the grey areas.
3) India may do well in a one-off tournament in 2009. Everyone will feel happy for a while. But sustainable results? No, that’s not going to happen.
4) All the support staff of the team needs to have a proper contract.
You have agreed, in principle, to be the coach till Commonwealth Games 2010. I wonder if you genuinely felt the need for a contract.
I know that may not be much in your control. However, I am moved by one of your statements by you yesterday.
Going back in time, I have read each and every page of your book 'The Golden Boot'.
I am 100% sure that you will be aware where you went wrong in the whole episode.
1) You attempted to take up a role that wasn't given to you - Selector.
2) You attempted to take up political issues of players with the Federation; a Federation that had already turned hostile to you.
Whereas, it is entirely understandable that a coach cannot work if certain players who fall in scheme of things are not taken in the team, but the fact remains until and unless a Coach is in the Selection Committee there is very little he can do in this arena.
Now, after your appointment, you say "if the Tirkeys or Thakur perform well, they can make it to the team."
Here are my questions to you:
1) On what basis, are you guaranteeing them a place if they perform well? Are you in the Selection Committee? Who will judge, after all, whether they are perform well or not? You, Selection Committee or the media?
2) Is it in your defined role to comment on who or who cannot make it to the team?
3) Couldn't your answer, to the 48 probable related question, have been: you are not a Selection Committee member?
My polite word of caution is what the Great India Epic, Geeta, says: Concentrate on the work that has been given to you.
Easier said than done; I agree.
However if you are successful, you can set a precedent to the next generation of coaches to maintain professionalism at work.
To sum it, I have faith in your capabilities as a Chief Coach and I watch keenly as to how the Indian team shapes up from where it is now.
Last but not the least; I quote a line from your book: "I am only for the game of hockey, not for politics".
It's nice to see that you have been appointed the chief of the national team. No hesitation in expressing the fact that I wanted to see Ric Charlesworth in this hot seat but Ric's departure is history now.
You and Ric have teamed up well in your Women’s Hockey assignment.You have been a person who has been very open to making use of Ric Charlesworth’s expertise.
By the same token, I hope you remember, according to him, the mistakes that we have been committing.I quote a few related to Hockey, on field, per say:
1) Indian hockey cannot run on anecdotes, there has to be some reality.
2) The first thing they should do is to accept their mistakes and not make excuses and then go about rectifying the grey areas.
3) India may do well in a one-off tournament in 2009. Everyone will feel happy for a while. But sustainable results? No, that’s not going to happen.
4) All the support staff of the team needs to have a proper contract.
You have agreed, in principle, to be the coach till Commonwealth Games 2010. I wonder if you genuinely felt the need for a contract.
I know that may not be much in your control. However, I am moved by one of your statements by you yesterday.
Going back in time, I have read each and every page of your book 'The Golden Boot'.
I am 100% sure that you will be aware where you went wrong in the whole episode.
1) You attempted to take up a role that wasn't given to you - Selector.
2) You attempted to take up political issues of players with the Federation; a Federation that had already turned hostile to you.
Whereas, it is entirely understandable that a coach cannot work if certain players who fall in scheme of things are not taken in the team, but the fact remains until and unless a Coach is in the Selection Committee there is very little he can do in this arena.
Now, after your appointment, you say "if the Tirkeys or Thakur perform well, they can make it to the team."
Here are my questions to you:
1) On what basis, are you guaranteeing them a place if they perform well? Are you in the Selection Committee? Who will judge, after all, whether they are perform well or not? You, Selection Committee or the media?
2) Is it in your defined role to comment on who or who cannot make it to the team?
3) Couldn't your answer, to the 48 probable related question, have been: you are not a Selection Committee member?
My polite word of caution is what the Great India Epic, Geeta, says: Concentrate on the work that has been given to you.
Easier said than done; I agree.
However if you are successful, you can set a precedent to the next generation of coaches to maintain professionalism at work.
To sum it, I have faith in your capabilities as a Chief Coach and I watch keenly as to how the Indian team shapes up from where it is now.
Last but not the least; I quote a line from your book: "I am only for the game of hockey, not for politics".
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Letter to Ric Charlesworth
Ric Charlesworth must have left India by now.
Here are few things that he said before he left:
Here is what I feel like writing to him:
Dear Mr. Charlesworth,
It is sad that you left like this. Leave aside a handful of your dedicated fans and another few who looked at your recommendations in a neutral manner, there aren't many who felt moved by your unavoidable departure.
You put up with a system with which we ourselves are fed up. It is something like, if I ask someone what can be done to change things in Hockey they will say,"Nothing will ever going to change ... these administrators will kill the game completely."
The underlying fact is, "Not many have courage to work towards to positive change." That is why the administrators rule the game.
You were smart enough to interact with so many people that you understood the whole system in and out.
I once argued with a person pleading, "Atleast accept that something is wrong here. We can then take steps towards bettering it."
The response I got was, "No, the way you see it is wrong. It works like this only."
That sums up the whole situation.
Your mistake was that you found a problem in our system. For us, our system is the tremendous pool of players (and talent) that we have! That, by the virtue of above argument, is flawless and no one else has it to such a capacity.
We will keep pushing for recognition on this premise, no matter any medals come our way or not.
Your another mistake is, you have left our system stark naked. Because the fact is, we will not accept it. No matter, how embarrasing it is for anyone else, we won't accept this.
Second lastly, we will keep harping on the 8 Gold Medals that we won, sometime! We have a fascination for history.
As one of the popular movie songs says: ulti seedhi .. jaisi bhi hai .. apni yahi kahani ... phir bhi dil hai hindustani ...!
(whatever it is .. but we still are Indians)
Last but not the least, you should learn that in India if one wins a medal or a national level award, they have every right to rule the arena, thereafter, forever. They are waivered of for any Administrative, Coaching skills,etc related questions.
Just hoping that some progressive thinking leader will come forward, one day, and understand the gravity of the situation and your recommendations!
Signing off,
Best regards,
Shashank.
Here are few things that he said before he left:
- Indian hockey cannot run on anecdotes, there has to be some reality.
- The change has to come from within.
- I love India, it is a country of incredible contrasts.
- Corporatise hockey in India, that's the best way to put in place a professional structure.
- All the support staff of the team needs to have a proper contract.
- One good thing is that Indian media is interested in hockey and transparency to the media is very essential.
- What is the aspiration of a hockey player here? Playing for the country, maybe. But what he really wants is a secure job. He doesn’t think about getting a medal in Olympics for his country, he just wants to earn his livelyhood.
- India may do well in a one-off tournament in 2009. Everyone will feel happy for a while. But sustainable results? No, that’s not going to happen.
- The first thing they should do is to accept their mistakes and not make excuses and then go about rectifying the grey areas.
Here is what I feel like writing to him:
Dear Mr. Charlesworth,
It is sad that you left like this. Leave aside a handful of your dedicated fans and another few who looked at your recommendations in a neutral manner, there aren't many who felt moved by your unavoidable departure.
You put up with a system with which we ourselves are fed up. It is something like, if I ask someone what can be done to change things in Hockey they will say,"Nothing will ever going to change ... these administrators will kill the game completely."
The underlying fact is, "Not many have courage to work towards to positive change." That is why the administrators rule the game.
You were smart enough to interact with so many people that you understood the whole system in and out.
I once argued with a person pleading, "Atleast accept that something is wrong here. We can then take steps towards bettering it."
The response I got was, "No, the way you see it is wrong. It works like this only."
That sums up the whole situation.
Your mistake was that you found a problem in our system. For us, our system is the tremendous pool of players (and talent) that we have! That, by the virtue of above argument, is flawless and no one else has it to such a capacity.
We will keep pushing for recognition on this premise, no matter any medals come our way or not.
Your another mistake is, you have left our system stark naked. Because the fact is, we will not accept it. No matter, how embarrasing it is for anyone else, we won't accept this.
Second lastly, we will keep harping on the 8 Gold Medals that we won, sometime! We have a fascination for history.
As one of the popular movie songs says: ulti seedhi .. jaisi bhi hai .. apni yahi kahani ... phir bhi dil hai hindustani ...!
(whatever it is .. but we still are Indians)
Last but not the least, you should learn that in India if one wins a medal or a national level award, they have every right to rule the arena, thereafter, forever. They are waivered of for any Administrative, Coaching skills,etc related questions.
Just hoping that some progressive thinking leader will come forward, one day, and understand the gravity of the situation and your recommendations!
Signing off,
Best regards,
Shashank.
Monday, August 4, 2008
4 Indian Hockey Coaches go to Beijing
Few days back, it was reported that 4 coaches will be visiting Beijing to watch Olympics Hockey and there after, they will prepare their project report for the revival of the game in the country.
These 4 people are M K Kaushik, A K Bansal, Harinder Singh and A B Subbaiah.
Sometimes, I feel, if not drastically positive, but still Indian Olympics Association (IOA) is bringing about progressive changes to Indian Hockey (or shall I call it Hockey India!)
The idea to send coaches to different countries is not a new one. A lot of other countries do this and this is how they prepare their teams for major upcoming events.
After the Chile debacle, it was a much-asked question (by the Hockey intelligensia, ofcourse!) that why didn't India send anyone to Champions Trophy, Malaysia, 2007 to observe the game of Great Britian.
What India could have done long back is being implemented now. Fair enough. If not in full but in part.
The difference is that Indian coaches are not going for analyzing a particular team. They are going to observe the matches to present a report on what changes should be brought about to improve the condition of the game.
Understandable; atleast someone in power does think that there are lessons to be learnt from outside countries.
I don't think that this visit is a part of a shrewd game strategy that Europeans use but still going abroad to watch certain matches is definitely not a culture that took birth in India. So, in a way, it is a positive step that may prove to a "attitude-shift" in the years to come.
These 4 people are M K Kaushik, A K Bansal, Harinder Singh and A B Subbaiah.
Sometimes, I feel, if not drastically positive, but still Indian Olympics Association (IOA) is bringing about progressive changes to Indian Hockey (or shall I call it Hockey India!)
The idea to send coaches to different countries is not a new one. A lot of other countries do this and this is how they prepare their teams for major upcoming events.
After the Chile debacle, it was a much-asked question (by the Hockey intelligensia, ofcourse!) that why didn't India send anyone to Champions Trophy, Malaysia, 2007 to observe the game of Great Britian.
What India could have done long back is being implemented now. Fair enough. If not in full but in part.
The difference is that Indian coaches are not going for analyzing a particular team. They are going to observe the matches to present a report on what changes should be brought about to improve the condition of the game.
Understandable; atleast someone in power does think that there are lessons to be learnt from outside countries.
I don't think that this visit is a part of a shrewd game strategy that Europeans use but still going abroad to watch certain matches is definitely not a culture that took birth in India. So, in a way, it is a positive step that may prove to a "attitude-shift" in the years to come.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Carvalho and Dronacharya Award
As reported in a few newspapers today, Joaquim Carvalho, former Chief Coach for Indian Men's Hockey team, is unhappy with the fact that his name didn't feature in the list of nominees of presitigious Dronacharya Award - an award conferred by Indian Government to those who excelled as Sports coaches.
Players/Coaches in Hockey (and all other sports, other than Cricket) are often offered pathetic treatment with no one to hear their woes. Some are known to the common public and others, mostly, are known only by Hockey professionals.
So, amidst this, it can taken that Carvalho must have felt that some injustice has been meted out at him and hence, the final resort, media!
The point here is, what does Carvalho want to prove by doing this.
1) Is it that he has been an excellent coach, who needs to be conferred with Dronacharya Award? .. or he is just unhappy with not being 'nominated'
2) The report says, he has been recommended for the same for the fourth year in succession. If you ask me, I will give some marks for Asia Cup but that was in Sept '07. So, how come the name was being recommended for the first 3 times?
3) Last but not the least, I feel Carvalho is demanding sympathy from the public through media.
Take this: Very interestingly, although the news is first published by PTI, in the print version, only Times of India has printed this news. That too, in only a few editions. I feel even media didn't sympathasize with the coach this time.
Lastly, let's not forget that Joaquim, in his positive points, has mentioned that he is an Olympian and former captain of Indian team. The article doesn't say anything more. Does it suffice to get a Dronacharya Award?
Players/Coaches in Hockey (and all other sports, other than Cricket) are often offered pathetic treatment with no one to hear their woes. Some are known to the common public and others, mostly, are known only by Hockey professionals.
So, amidst this, it can taken that Carvalho must have felt that some injustice has been meted out at him and hence, the final resort, media!
The point here is, what does Carvalho want to prove by doing this.
1) Is it that he has been an excellent coach, who needs to be conferred with Dronacharya Award? .. or he is just unhappy with not being 'nominated'
2) The report says, he has been recommended for the same for the fourth year in succession. If you ask me, I will give some marks for Asia Cup but that was in Sept '07. So, how come the name was being recommended for the first 3 times?
3) Last but not the least, I feel Carvalho is demanding sympathy from the public through media.
Take this: Very interestingly, although the news is first published by PTI, in the print version, only Times of India has printed this news. That too, in only a few editions. I feel even media didn't sympathasize with the coach this time.
Lastly, let's not forget that Joaquim, in his positive points, has mentioned that he is an Olympian and former captain of Indian team. The article doesn't say anything more. Does it suffice to get a Dronacharya Award?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Indian Women's Hockey team training in Bangalore...
Today's, TOI reports (see http://hockeyandhockey.blogspot.com/2008/07/indian-hockey-printed-articles-29-july.html) that Indian Women's Hockey team members are stacked nine to a room with conditions so bad that some players have fallen ill.
The article also says that Beijing- bound athletes have been given more rooms than the Women's team.
It mentions that toilet are filthy.
It also says that conditions are much better than Karnail Singh Stadium in New Delhi as far as "food, bed linen and other things" are concerned.
It is quoted, "Because we don't get very little rest, some have fallen ill."
This statement has connotations.
As far as toilets are concerned, it's an omnipresent sight in our country, I feel.
Notwithstanding the fact that often National level Hockey Players are given worst treatment, but by simple summing up of the above article, I felt that the article can be taken with a pinch of salt.
Last but not the least, the national daily, with more than 12 editions, reports it as "Sai's Kenkeri complex". Of what I know, it is SAI, South Center, Kengeri!
The article also says that Beijing- bound athletes have been given more rooms than the Women's team.
It mentions that toilet are filthy.
It also says that conditions are much better than Karnail Singh Stadium in New Delhi as far as "food, bed linen and other things" are concerned.
It is quoted, "Because we don't get very little rest, some have fallen ill."
This statement has connotations.
As far as toilets are concerned, it's an omnipresent sight in our country, I feel.
Notwithstanding the fact that often National level Hockey Players are given worst treatment, but by simple summing up of the above article, I felt that the article can be taken with a pinch of salt.
Last but not the least, the national daily, with more than 12 editions, reports it as "Sai's Kenkeri complex". Of what I know, it is SAI, South Center, Kengeri!
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