The nation celebrates the 50th century of Sachin Tendulkar at Centurion. It’s a remarkable feat by any standards. Tendulkar, more than his records stands for the true meaning of longevity in sport. As the hundred was completed at Centurion, would this thought have crossed Indian Hockey administrators that they have truly missed out on creating a champion for the sport in the last 20-30 years? A true icon that drives school kids to play the sport. Try and become like their icon. One doesn’t know if they even thought on those lines. As an Olympian once said, “If hockey administrators could think, that would be a huge step.”
But somewhere we have failed to create that icon. Whether it was a Dhanraj Pillay or a Pargat Singh or even Dilip Tirkey; all of them came from humble backgrounds to become world players and excel. The federation always had its own agenda with the players – it was like a virtual battleground on who is bigger, the board or the player. Not that it doesn’t happen in cricket or other sport across the world. But the ego issues were bigger than the issue of pure survival of the sport.
As I write this, things are happening in England that could have an impact on who wins the gold medal in 2012 London Olympics. While we still don’t have a 20-member strong team that could be the core of the structure or even a coach, England has increased its hockey funding from £13,847,400 to £14,981,200. That’s around a cool 100 crores. This funding is for the 2009-13 cycle. While you take in the numbers, England have already shown the results – They are European Champions, finished in the top four of the World Cup and made the semi-finals of the Commonwealth Games. Incidentally, India beat them in the semi-finals of the CG.
Sally Munday, the Chief Operating Officer of GB Hockey said, “In recent years the England men have become European Champions and achieved significant results on the world stage including fourth at the World Cup and second at the Champions Trophy. At the same time, our women have finished on the podium in all three of their 2010 tournaments, winning bronze at the World Cup, Commonwealth Games and Champions Trophy as well as at the 2009 European Championships. Those performances and results have come as a result of well thought out decisions taken four or five years ago, which have been consistently implemented in the years since.
“What this will allow us to do is continue to invest in the areas that are starting to pay dividends, namely increasing coach-to-athlete contact time, coach development and sports science and sports medicine innovation. It will allow us to push on with our progress and will help ensure we give our hockey players the highest chance of success come London 2012 – people in the UK love team sport and hockey is going to be THE team sport to see at the London Olympics in 2012.”
Meanwhile, lobbying for the job of the Indian coach has already begun. Dhanraj Pillay has thrown his hat into the ring of fire. So has Mir Ranjan Negi, the former goalkeeper now a TV celebrity. A few others would be lobbying as well. While the group that takes decisions on Indian hockey like Ajitpal Singh, Zafar Iqbal, Gurbux Singh sit smug and play God. Their vision and programme don’t last beyond one year with the swift removal of the coach coming at the end.
Narinder Batra, off late, has been wooing Pargat Singh away from being Sports Director, Punjab to become Technical Head of Hockey India. Pargat has done a brilliant job as Sports Director, Punjab but would he have the same free hand while dealing with people like Batra. Knowing Pargat, he wouldn’t sign on the job unless he gets a free hand. But if he does, India would be assured of a good foreign coach. Pargat is influential in the hockey circle abroad and former players in Australia, England, Germany and Holland respect him immensely. In other words, expect a coach from Holland or Australia.
But the man who should be given the reins is South Korea’s Kim Sang-Ryul. The South Korean who now heads the Chinese women’s team has studied in NIS, Patiala under the late Balkishen Singh. If anybody today knows Indian hockey or has studied it, it’s Kim Sang-Ryul. But he comes with a rider. Not money but freedom to select the team. And that is where Pargat can play a role between the federation and the coach as Technical Director.
Even in Australia, you have Colin Batch and Barry Dancer but after the way we treated Ric Charlesworth, I don’t see any Aussies lining up soon. Australian coaches want a lot of freedom to do their job. Indian administrators want a lot of freedom to fire coaches. I wonder why no journalist has ever asked the Indian selection committee or Narinder Batra for that matter – any thoughts on why Australia is No.1 and India wherever they are?Not that Indians are looking to be No.1 in a hurry but at least the top four to six and qualify for the Olympics.
While England get more funding and show results, we still look for a coach who could be in sync with the selection committee and Hockey India. Not the other way around.