Will the infusion of big money into the Hockey India League help to raise the standard of the sport in India? CNN-IBN's associate editor(sports) Digvijay Singh Deo joined IBNLive readers for an interaction on the issue.
Q. The reason why Cricket is more popular than hockey is its ease of adoption. All you require is a tennis ball and a bat. Where as Hockey requires specific sticks a ground with posts etc.. Also chances of injury in hockey are more. Stamina and skills are also required for playing hockey..No amount of cash can help hockey in India. Sad.. Asked by: Karthik
A. You do not take up a sport because of how easy it is or how difficult. You take it up because of a passion. Start winning and see the diff. 6 years back how many people were talking about badminton, or boxing or wrestling. Now after Olympic performances they are. Why are we consistently throwing up shooting stars. Cause once you make that initial effort at putting a strong system in place the results will follow.
Q. Will cash infusion into hockey help the sport in India? Asked by: Monty
A. Of course, the money goes directly to the players not the pockets of officials. Why should it now then.
Q. I feel it may not be the only way, but definitely it is good move. I come from Jharkhand and it is not hidden how erstwhile hockey players live......better late than never. Asked by: S ESHWAR
A. Yes money is always welcome. Earlier hockey players would be seen on bikes, now they are moving to cars. More and more sports in India should get professional. Once players starts making money it has a spillover effect. Others will be motivated too to take to hockey once they know there is serious money to be made. Till now in hockey you do well and you get a government or a PSU job which pays you between 10000-30000 per month. Here for a month you can earn between 1.5 lakhs to 45 lakhs depending on seniority and experience. Already franchises are cribbing that auction purse should have been higher. Let's hope this league clicks then next time the salary cap could be doubled to say 7 crores a team from the 3.5 crores this time.
Q. There is still no resolution about who runs hockey in this country - HI or IHF. Yet, we are going gaga over a IPL-styled league. Please respond Asked by: Joe Root
A. True, that's the problem isn't it. But whoever runs hockey in the country the fact is now there is money available to the player. Let the courts decide who will run hockey in India. Its bizarre that players of WSH were kept out yet all of them played in nationals conducted by Hockey India. WSH is unsanctioned says HI yet almost all domestic tournaments in India, Nehru Hockey or Shastri Hockey are held under the IHF banner. Bizarre as Ajay Maken said once inflated egos have ruined Indian hockey but why dwell on that. The player is getting money and that is commendable. 1st PHL players were paid as per Gill and Joyoti's whims and fancies. WSH too didn't give players real due. While Arjun and Rajpal got around 40 Lakhs, Prabodh Tirkey who is a former India Captain got 5.
Q. While India cricket was getting battered and bruised in the Series against England, the Hockey team did fairly well in the Champions league. I think, the sports needs more focus, more money and encouragement to players. what are your views. Asked by: Narayan
A. Let's be honest, where was hockey in 2008, we did not qualify for Beijing Olympics. We finally woke up and got in a top notch tactical coach in Brasa. Results were there. There seemed to be a system and we got silver in CWG and Bronze in Asiad. Ego battles saw Brasa leave. Then Nobbs came in in 2011 and had 7-8 months to qualify for Olympics, which playing at home the team did, that was our standard. We were not ready for the next level. If probably Brasa had continued we could have done well at London. I firmly believe that as I had seen a marked improvement in the way we played. Now we know where we stand after London. So, it's time to get new blood in and persist with them. Sardar is the best player in the world at the moment, build your team around him. Nobbs tried that and it worked in Australia. Let's be patient. Give this team time and it should be ready for 2016 Rio by the end of 2014. A new pool of players who are not used to losing. Then throw in the talent and experience that you will gain playing in the new league and you have a blueprint for success. Let's remember we used to be a hockey superpower. We have not won anything major since 1980. Results cannot happen overnight. Ideally, if the planning is correct then you should see India challenging for Gold in 8 years time. But that's if the process is allowed to continue. Unfortunately, Indian hockey takes one step forward and two steps backward at the same time.
Q. Even winning is not helping the sport get popular with the crowd. Don't you think including hockey in schools should help matters? Asked by: sandeep rao
A. Popularity will increase once the team starts winning. At the moment, hockey isn't that badly off. There are a few dedicated nurseries which continue to produce talent. But it's not in the large numbers required. Please remember the Olympic qualifiers in Delhi..housefull on all India games. What this league, if successful will do is enhance your taken pool. Earlier you had players coming through domestic hockey and then when they played for India it took them a few years to find their feet as the competition there is on a diff level. But here the competetion will be top notch. imagine young Amit Rohidas, just 19 coming face to face with Jamie Dwyer or Teun De Noojier. What a learning curve for him. Also with the money being thrown around it helps aspiration levels as well. How often does India play at home. Schedule more series in India and see how people flock to see games.
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