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| SPORTS TRIBUNE |
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Redefining moment for hockey Teeing-off Karate
prospect |
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Redefining moment for hockey
IT is rather difficult to adjust to harsh realities after a year in a state of euphoria but Indian hockey has no choice but to accept the transition from heroes to zeroes forced on them by the facts and figures detailed in the Azlan Shah Hockey Tournament in Kuala Lumpur recently. It is not easy to digest a string of reverses particularly when the year ending had been one of glorious splendour. But then this sudden transformation is not new to Indian hockey. There have been many occasions in the past when our teams have promised much only to bring us back to the earth. The reasons advanced for lack of performance in terms of goals scored have been many and considerable repair work has gone into making the necessary adjustments. That is what the coaches have on their hands now. They must analyse the outcome of the matches in the Azlan Shah Tournament and take immediate remedial steps to ensure that the mistakes are not repeated. Admittedly Pakistan rank with the best among the world but they are not the best. In fact Holland and Australia hover over them nearly all the time. There are other teams too, like Korea, whose rebuilding process has paid rich dividends. Indian hockey will have deemed to have “arrived again” only when the country is able to win a top-class hockey tournament with all the big teams take part. The Azlan Shah Tournament was one such tournament and India, for reasons of its own, chose to send quite a few from the bench strength. It was a very correct thing to do but unfortunately the plans appear to go haywire. The results proved that the experiment combination were not in the same class. The truth that India does not have depth enough in the game is something very difficult to digest. Step indeed have to be taken to look for a solid bunch of players to fill in the transition stage . The failure of the old-new mix to function as a team contrasts sharply with the performances of some of the other teams, namely Pakistan and even Australia who have come though a lean period to finish at the top of the tournament in Kuala Lumpur. Pakistan in particular have had quite a bad time in recent years, unable to get even a bronze in the Busan Asian Games. Then came their defeats in crucial matches against India. But since then they appear to have bounced back and can rightly claim to have recaptured their position in world hockey. There is no reason why India cannot emulate them? One of the areas where fresh work is need is penalty corner conversion. Here one must point to the amazing success rate of Pakistan’s Sohail Abbas, known as the “drag-flick king” who almost single handedly took his team to the final stage and ended as the top scorer with 10 goals. And another area where India could pay more attention is the defence. Far too many goals were conceded. Of course the makeshift team which went to Kuala Lumpur would naturally give way to the full strength combination by the time of the Olympic qualifying matches later in the year. But one must remember here that the makeshift or the experimental combination at Kuala Lumpur did comprise the country’s main penalty corner specialists in Len Ayappa, Sandeep Singh and Baljit Dhillon but despite their presence India could score just four goals from 17 PCs. And they will be on duty when India go to the Olympic qualifying competition. Their skills too need to be tuned up. Thus India will have to learn from the mistakes of Kuala Lumpur if they are to succeed in world hockey. |
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Teeing-off AFTER successful 40 editions — 38 by ITC and two by Shaw Wallace — there is a lurking possibility of ‘miscarriage’ of the Indian Open. The discontinuation, even for one year, will cause incalculable harm to Indian golf and professionals. Who is to blame for the sorry state of affairs compelling the famous sponsors to ‘shy away’ from staging the competition which they held for two years with tremendous verve, pomp and show? The fault clearly lies with the event managers, International Management Group (IMG), well known promoters of sports, particularly of golf. The survey shows that the prestigious event in 2003 cost the sponsors more than twice the amount budgeted and sanctioned for the $ 3,00,000 prize money tournament, the biggest in the country. The sponsors were naturally alarmed at the enormous escalation in the expenses, which threw their calculations haywire. This was not all. The event management could not offer any plausible explanation for the alarming rise in expenses. The sponsors’ reasoning for having rethinking about staging the competition is simple and straight-forward. “For the 2003 event, we were led to down the garden path. We were called upon to spend much more than the budgeted amount and also we spent much more than the mileage we got from the event,” said a senior official of the sponsors. Sponsors are a very small sporting community in the country. It is more difficult to secure their patronage than achieve a hole-in-one in the reputed tournament. Their relationship with event managements is very sensitive. But when this vital faith is shaken, it causes tremendous harm to sports, particularly to golf and Indian pros, who are unable to secure sponsorship. Even a stalwart, like Arjun Atwal does not have a regular sponsorship. Sportstar is a very conservative and non-controversial sports weekly. Among three at one time, this is the only magazine surviving. On October 26, 2002, it says: “Dread the day when IMG controls golf — In every sport, we (sports journalists) take scores and results, and any other details from the right people appointed by the respective sports federation. A PR company distributing scores, two to three hours after the play, is an apology. Moreover, it is usual practice of going through the cards of the top performers, and of those stars who did not do well on that day.” The magazine adds: “The IMG does not like this idea, as we understand. It offers an explanation that journalists were barred from entering the tournament office, restricted only for its staff. Then why not have a separate media room with a responsible person ready with all the required information?” The report concludes: “We wonder why it happens only when the IMG is at the helm”. The event managers did send a clarification but it turned out to be no more than wishy-washy. Amidst this scenario, the IMG’s Indian official has gone on record as saying that ‘We have sent a revised proposal to the sponsors’. The sponsors’ senior official, who was here in connection with the BT Pro-Am, was non-committal about the tournament. We will announce our final decision in about a fortnight”. The rub of the matter is that the event management groups have to have a realistic approach in organising the tournament. When they do not watch their waist-line, they are bound to trip. If the Indian Open does not come off this March, the biggest losers will be the Indian Golf Union. Its financial health, already in doldrums, will become more feeble because it is the only pro tournament, which provides it some financial assistance. Already there is trouble within the IGU. It may face more trouble in the event of hunger. |
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Karate
prospect Sandeep joined karate coaching classes about four years ago. Among her achievements are gold medals in the third International Karate Championship-2000 (25 kg to 30 kg category) organised in Pune by the Maharashtra Shito-Ryu-Karate-Do-Association and the All India Invitation Karate and Kobudo Tournament 2003 held in Chennai. She also won a bronze in the 8th International Panathlon High School Karate and Kick Boxing Championship 2001 in 30 kg in Kathmandu. At the national level, she won her first medal in the All-India Karate Championship (subjunior) at Dehra Dun in January 2000. The same year she won a bronze in the National Karate Championship. She won gold medals in the fifth subjunior and Junior National Championship (2000-2001) at Faridabad; sixth Subjunior and Junior National Karate Championship (2001-2002) at Patiala; second All-India Karate Championship at Panipat in January 2002; National Karate Championship at Shimla in July 2001; and the second Baba Baghail Singh Invitation Shotokan Karate Tournament in August 2003. She also won eight gold medals in various karate tournaments held in Chandigarh during the past three years. Sandeep also won a scholarship of Rs 7,200 instituted by the Sports Authority of India, besides the most promising player award in the second Chandigarh State Subjunior and Junior Ball Badminton Championship in 1996. Her coach, Ashwani Gupta, though all praise for her, rues the absence of a gradation system in Chandigarh which can help players to get jobs. “Karate should be treated at par with judo and included in the National Games,” he says. |
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India’s dream cut short at Sydney THE dream of the Indian cricket team of winning the Test series in Australia was shattered when the third Test ended in draw. Thousands of Indian cricket fans were disappointed. Sachin and Rahul Dravid should resort to hard-hitting in the second innings to make the rivals bat as early as possible. We now have to wait for a long time for victory in a Test series in Australia. SUNIL BANSAL II Hats off to the Indian cricket team for the splendid performance in Australia. Though they could not win the series, their effort in levelling the series was praiseworthy. Dravid, Laxman and Kumble deserve special mention for their superb display. Tendulkar’s return to form with a superb 241was commendable. NAVDEEP BHATIA III Congratulations to the Indian cricket team for winning the second cricket Test against Australia at Adelaide. The Indian side gave a strong reply by scoring 523 runs in the first innings after Australia had scored 556 in their first innings. India were 85-4 at one stage with big names like Tendulkar and Ganguly back in the pavilion. Rahul Dravid and Laxman added 303 runs, which reminded us of their own partnership of 376 runs against the same side at Kolkata in 2001. Dravid went on to score a double hundred and Laxman also got a century. Dravid really proved himself as Mr Dependable. He held the Indian innings together and was the last man to be dismissed for 233. This was a great team effort. Heartiest congratulations to the Indian team. BHUPINDER PAL DHIMAN Kudos to Kumble Congratulations to Anil Kumble for taking 378 wickets in 81 Tests which made him the second highest Indian wicket-taker. after Kapil Dev. He became a hero after taking 24 wickets in Australia. GURUDEV S. JAIN Saurav
shines Hats off to Saurav Ganguly, the Indian skipper, for his fine knock 144 in the first cricket Test against Australia at the Gabba. With this knock, he silenced not only his detractors, but also made the Aussies dance to his tune. TARSEM S. BUMRAH |
SHE is just 15 years old, but has already won several medals, including gold, at various international and national championships. Sandeep Kaur, a promising karate player, was selected to participate in the Open International Karate Championship to be held in Slovenia in November last year, but due to lack of support, she had to miss out on it. She won a gold in the All-India Invitational Karate and Kobudo Tournament 2003 held in Chennai and was selected to visit Slovenia.