Indian Hockey: Apocalypse now?

Even as the entire nation ponders over the Santiago debacle, the world of Indian hockey might be in for another rude shock due to the waywardness of the games administrators, writes Prabhjot Singh

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has preferred to rub in rather than soothe the wounds that the beating at Santiago inflicted on Indian hockey. While the ardent lovers of the game are finding it hard to come to terms with the grief of losing an Olympic berth for the first time in 80 years, the FIH has delivered yet another lethal punch on the badly bruised Indian Hockey Confederation, by accusing it of “unsatisfactory” progress on the Promotion of Indian Hockey project.

The FIH had been sending its experts to India over the past few years to make an on-the-spot evaluation and suggest ways and means of reviving the game. The experts submitted their report in late 2006 that was subsequently ratified by the executive board of the FIH at its special meeting in Delhi, in February, last year.

By threatening to withdraw the 2010 World Cup, which the FIH had given to India on its own, the Lausanne-based hockey’s world body appears to be in a tearing hurry to drive the last nail in the coffin of Indian hockey.

And if the FIH is toying with the idea to shift the event elsewhere, it is primarily because India does not have a lobby to support its cause. The Indian Hockey Confederation has little or no say either in the FIH or its continental unit, the Asian Hockey Federation. And the IHC officials have done little to mend its way and make up with the top brass of the FIH. Being a super power in the sport in the past does not get India anywhere.

True, threat is always a two-edged weapon that can work either way. May be the FIH wants the IHC to wake up from its slumber and get active and start doing things that it should have done after its 1968 Mexico Olympics debacle. Another option could be that it has given up on Indian hockey altogether realising nothing could be done to revive the game in a country where administrative control of the sport was totally unresponsive.

Whatever be the compulsions of the FIH, the Lausanne punch after Santiago was least expected. But going by the present day philosophy followed by all international and national sports federations, it is the economics of holding an event that acts as a catalyst for decision-making.

The feeling in the FIH has been that after India’s failure to make it to the Beijing Olympic Games, holding of the 2010 World Cup in New Delhi may not be a financial success. Sponsors would shy away from an event where they are not sure or confident of the performance or standing of their home team.

Since money is always the key factor, FIH, too, must be eyeing a lot of money from its most prestigious event, the World Cup. The onus is now on the IHC to convince one and all that there would be no shortage of funds or sponsors for the 2010 event. The FIH executive board members must have been worried over the response they may have enunciated from probable sponsors since their unilateral decision in February last year to chose New Delhi as tentative venue for the World Cup.

Both Malaysia and Pakistan can still offer and promise better monetary terms to the FIH in case the event was shifted from India. They say when a ship start to sink, the first ones to flee are the rats. In this case it is the FIH, an amateur world sports body-turned professional, which now feels that there is nothing left to be extracted from India. It is a grave time for any sports follower, let alone hockey enthusiast. Hockey has been a game that brought, not just Olympic gold medals to the country, but also team spirit and unity at times when the country was divided on all possible grounds.

Today when the sport finds itself at the doorsteps of possible oblivion, it is time to look at things in retrospect and then introspect whether we are ready for the age where the new generation doesn’t care if an Indian’s wizardry at the game melted the heart of the world’s most cruel dictator.

IN THE NEWS
Rawalpindi Express derailed

The Pakistan Cricket Board for violating the players’ code of conduct handed Shoaib Akhtar, the 32-year-old ‘Rawalpindi Express’, a five year-ban. A look at his decade-long career reveals a tendency of being at the wrong side of the rules, almost always.

His controversial action was the first reason that got him adverse spotlight in December 1999. He came back with an improved arm movement but was banned again for suspect action in January 2001.

However, he once again showed resilience to bounce back but his infamous temper got the better of him when he threw a bottle at spectators during Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe to be slapped with a one-ODI ban and a hefty fine. His run-ins with authorities didn’t stop at that, the flamboyant bowler was at it again the very next month, as he was found guilty of ball tampering.

In May 2003 Shoaib was found tampering the ball yet again during Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka and was banned for two ODIs. Refusing to unlearn his antics, Shoaib was banned and fined several times. October 2006 was perhaps the one of the darkest chapters of his life when he tested positive for performance-enhancing drug Nandrolone.

The ensuing two-year ban was eventually lifted after Shoaib appealed but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) came out with a damning report on the pacer’s disciplinary record. Exactly a year later, Shoaib was put on a two-year probation for five-disciplinary breaches including the incident where he hit Mohammad Asif during the tour of South Africa.

However, Shoaib went on the offensive again and criticised the PCB for coming out with ‘an unfair contract system’. The board, in no mood to forgive, handed him a five-year ban. Meanwhile, Akhtar addressed a press conference where he vowed not take the five-year ban lying down and is set to file an appeal against the verdict.

Although he would still be eligible for other tournaments like the BCCI’s IPL, the ban should effectively mean an end to his international career. He had entered the cricketing scene in a rush and has probably made an equally quick exit; looks like its something about pace that gets this speedster ‘going’. — PTI

The Wall stands tall
Ivninderpal Singh

As Virender Sehwag went about butchering the South African attack, one man calmly completed a half-century, 10,000 Test career runs and subsequently a fine and well-deserved hundred. That has been the story of Rahul Dravid’s career. He has lived the initial part of his career in the shadow of the ‘Little Master’ and at times the ‘Prince of Kolkota’. Slowly and steadily, from being touted as probably the most boring batsman in the ODI age, Dravid worked on his reputation and became ‘Mr. Dependable’ and then finally ‘The Wall’.

During the first Test against South Africa in Chennai, Dravid added another feather to his already crowded cap. When he pushed Morne Morkel for a single, it was a single that changed the face of history books and skeptics, alike. It took him to the five-digit peak making him the third Indian, and the sixth batsman ever, in Test history to complete 10,000 runs.

Dravid began his Test journey back in 1996 against England, conquered Mt 10,000 in his 206th innings, second fastest in Test annals. Only Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara are ahead of him who had recorded this milestone in 195 innings. However, this 35-year-old former captain has the best batting average (55.41) among all who had surpassed the 10,000-run barrier.

Apart from this, he broke a slew of records in the Chennai Test. His ton at the Chidambaram stadium made him the third Indian after Tendulkar (39 hundreds), and Sunil Gavaskar (34), and the 12th batsman overall to score 25 centuries in Test cricket. He also became the first batsman to play 150 innings while batting at the No. 3 position. And it’s no surprise that Dravid has scored the most number of runs at this position, closely followed by the Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

With a reputation for being defensive, and at times overly defensive, Dravid has been there when most of the famed Indian stars have failed to pack a punch. That probably explains why his record away from home (58.50) is better than what it is in India (51.53). He is also the only player to score a century against every Test playing nation away from home. He has been involved in the most century partnerships in Test history (72). Dravid has been part of 10 century stands with three other batsmen — Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S Laxman. Gavaskar is the only other batsman who has had 10 century stands with three players. He was also involved in highest partnership made away from home for any wicket (410), for India, with Virender Sehwag, against Pakistan at Lahore in 2006.

Dravid is the workhorse of the team and that leads to him being a true match-winner as his technique and dedication have rarely let him or the team down. He averages 73.88 in matches India has won, which is 10 runs more than Tendulkar, while Lara is too far behind to get a mention. One of the main pillars of the Indian batting with his blend of technical proficiency and stylish strokes, his reaching the 10K-mark in Tests also helped him to enter an even more exclusive club of players to have scored more than 10,000 runs in both Tests and ODIs. He is the third player in the world after Tendulkar and Lara to achieve this grand double.

Now Dravid is all set to display his skills in the youngest and fastest cricket format as he leads Bangalore’s Indian Premier League team, the “Royal Challengers”. Knowing Dravid’s ability to adapt to a situation, expect nothing but the more ‘sweetly’ timed square cuts from ‘jammy’.

DLF Women’s Indian Open
Phatlum reigns supreme

Curbing her aggression, Phatlum Pornanong of Thailand played to a plan and emerged as a start-to-finish winner with an even par-72 in the three-day DLF Women’s Indian Open golf tournament. Phatlum was the only player to finish with a sub-par total at the DLF Golf and Country Club. She finished with a total score of 212 and four shots clear of Wei Yun Jye (71) of Chinese Taipei and Yuki Sakurai of Japan (72) who shared the second place at even par 216.

After an early bogey on the second she played pars all through till the 17th where she found her lone birdie of the day and closed with a par for a 72 that gave her a second title in as many starts. The shy, but smiling, 18-year-old, spoke in halting English through her manager. She aggregated four-under 212 and has now won both events on the LAGT this season, having won the Thailand Ladies Open earlier.

India’s Smriti Mehra carded a final round of even par 72 and finished tied sixth, to be the best Indian with a total of two-over 218. It was her second successive top-10 finish on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour. Sharing the sixth place with her was Chinese Taipei amateur Hsien Yu-Ling (71) at two-over 218.

Disappointed at not being able to challenge for the title, Smriti agreed it was reasonably good finish and she would take it. Amateur and teenaged Tanya Wadhwa was the next best Indian at tied 19th with a total of 10-over 226 and a final round of 74.

Irina Brar, who was hit by a back problem, withdrew on medical grounds. — IANS