Random Ramblings of a Reluctant Blogger

Long live Indian Hockey. No this is not a sarcastic comment. The turnaround of Indian hockey has just began, Call it the Chilean Reality.
For long Indian hockey has been like the frog in a pool of hot water. Drop a frog in the a pool of hot water and it immediately jumps out. But keep heating the water ever so slowly and the same frog with the hope that things will change stays in the pool till it eventually dies.
Indian hockey, though need not. And for that it needs some drastic measures. There should be no two thoughts about where the IHF stands. Those running, or is it ruining, the show should gracefully (if there is still some grace left) step down.
Yes a complete revamp is the need of the hour. And no small token steps or finding a scapegoat would suffice.
In fact if one has to see things in perspective, there is only one way to go from here – and that is UP.
Any seasoned fan would vouch for the talent that is available aplenty in the country.
Leave aside the doomsday prophets and the learned writers who go flowery every time the team just about manages a win and go for the team’s throat once it loses. These writers will have you believe that all will be well if only so and so plays, so and so is the coach. What they seem to forget is that hockey is a team game and a game that has seen a lot of transformations. They do not tell you a thing about the tactic and the gameplans which have unfortunately not kept up with times.
Perhaps these writers, who are as much to blame as the IHF, know only what they get to hear!
Every now and then one hears about the cricketers and money they make. The cash never seems to stop for them. Nor does the media coverage. Whereas the critics have a point, what they fail to see is that the cricketers have produced the results.
The BCCI, in itself no abode of virtue, has somehow managed to see that there is a system (though not foolproof) which keeps producing youngsters. Yes for every one Yuraj Singh who has made it from the junior there are many Ravneet Rickys who have failed to transfer their talents on to the bigger stage. That however, hasn’t stopped the youngsters from popping up. The domestic tournaments have long been the feeding point. And .what we now have a bench strength that can easily step in to fill the gaps.
Sadly that seems to be missing in hockey.
European domination
For long one has heard about the European domination and its ability to change rules to suit its style of play. Either IHF should have fought tooth and nail to stop those changes or having accepted it worked it out to see that Indians are not left behind.
It is all fine to point out to with pride the history time and again but quite another to realise that keep the history going one has to look forward.
And looking forward is one thing Indian hockey hasn’t. Just look at the rise of Korea, China and even Malaysia (Oh so often has it been our bugbear). One need not go that far either. Look at Pakistan, which has a game similar to us, has still produced better results.
Are our coaches aware of the latest trends and training methods? It is all fine to jump up immediately and shout we want foreign coaches. (Just an aside, the Indian cricketers have much better under ad hoc Indian coaches!). Are the coaches only to blame for the debacle? The coaches can only do that much. It is the players on the field who finally produce the magic is takes to change a victory from defeat.
Better infrastructure
And for the players to produce their best they need better facilities in terms of infrastructure, be it astro turfs or better arranged camps. One needs a constant vigil about how other countries play their game. The players have to nurtured well, which is primarily what the IHF needs to do. Add to this vibrant junior programme that ensures a confident strength. For to have a strong future one needs to have a strong base. All that is possible if and only if the IHF gets down to work. And that does not mean foreign jaunts for officials who would pick up more items for their wifes than tactics from other coaches.
Major changes
For long no questions have been asked of the IHF. It is time we did. Let the Chilean Frontier be a lesson. Dump the whole lot of officials in the IHF. Lets start afresh. Fresh with ideas, policies and a dream. And there is no better time than now. In fact it is a great opportunity. Given the talent and love (still alive inspite of doonsday writers) for the game Indian hockey can rise from the ashes.
Indian hockey is dead. Long Live Indian hockey.