By A Hockey Correspondent

BANGALORE: When the Indian team returned from Amstelveen after the three nation tournament in March there was a mood of buoyancy. This was despite India finishing third in the competition, behind England and the Netherlands. What really prompted an optimistic assessment of the performance was the manner in which the team acquitted itself against the two top European outfits. The team management expressed satisfaction over the fact that India was able to establish a clear lead in both the games and stood a bright chance of taking the trophy, if Holland and England had played a 11 draw.

If the praise for India’s showing had stemmed from the team’s management, then it could have been reckoned as mere justification rather than a critical analysis of the outcome. But it had sprouted in generous measure from critics like Mr. Patrick Rowley and other members of the Competitions Committee in the International Hockey Federation who were a witness to the matches at Amstelveen. This naturally lends credence to the assessment of the chief coach, Ganesh, and the team’s doctor, Vece Paes who is also a selection committee member.

It is, however, clear that mere emphasis that India put up a creditable show in the ‘event is unlikely to impress the majority opinion, which goes by the end result. India being on the road to recovery its true, Butthe distance ahead is long and arduous, The task undoubtedly calls for careful planning imagination and a dynamic approach to consolidate the gains, however modest they ‘may be since the last Olympiad in Seoul Certainly a good deal of pragmatism was evident in the way the selection committee went about rebuilding the team after the Seoul Olympics. The debate at that point was Whether t0 retain the senior elements taking advantage of the jump to the top six in the Olympics or to go in for a new look ‘outfit, aiming for a gold n the Beijing Asia.

Somewhat realistically the selection committee which now reflects the dynamic thinking of intellectuals like Vece Paes lumped for a youthful side in the Indira Gandhi tournament at Lucknow.

The needless issue of captaincy rated a siorm with Pargat Singh going out of the camp at Bangalore. But eventually it was a storm in a tea cup. A bronze medal and a bad defeat at the hands of Pakistan were not that coach Genesh had bargained for. But the tournament held out hopes that the Squad has in it the efficiency to measure up for a higher evaluation.

Admittedly, India is now poised to enter a more vibrant phase of competition. Right now, the team will be in the thick of the Champions Trophy action. This will be a litmus test to the progress said to have been ‘Achieved since the last Olympic Games. No ‘one can now complain that there are flaws in the preparation of the squad. In fact, never before has there been so much concern, planning and motivation as today. The work of the coaches in the National Institute of Sports, Bangalore, and the guidance of the Sports Authority of India should be handsomely acknowledged.

The process of selection too has acquired 4 veneer of logic through the tendency 10 vacillate over a few choices continues. The Inconsistency in naming the second goalKeeper ts a case in point. But a slight alteration here and there is part of the exercise and this can be left at that. However, the move to elevate Pargat Singh to the role of a vice-captain brushing aside left half Sujeet Kumar, seems unwarranted.

Interesting Phase

The Indian team now embarks on what can be termed as an interesting phase of competition for the year. This should confirm the future trends for this sport. Now the ‘focus will be on the new emerging patterns in contemporary hockey. The Olympics certainly proved the turning point. The new ‘power equation that underscores the dominance of Europe over the game has introduced an enchanting vista that is as breathtaking as it is vibrant Suddenly, hockey seems 1 have acquired the contours of a major sport attracting more patronage and consequently gaining more sponsorship. This is Particularly true in the case of Europe, specifically in West Germany, England and Holland. It is computed that in England alone sponsorship has now enlarged up to $350,000 and the national league supported by the British Airways Pound stretcher brings in around $100,000.

Talking of professionalism is premature and even unwanted. Some would like hokey retain its amateur fragrance. But there 4s a greater realization that players with proficiency should not be left, unrewarded for their labor.

Sean Kerly, Steven Batchelor and Imran Sherwani are household names and are being referred to as super stars. In West Germany Steven Blocher has emerged as 4an institution and is now referred to some What dubiously as the highest paid amateur in the world. Blocher’s endorsements in Germany are estimated to bring him around DM $100,000 a year.

Growing From the FIH viewpoint the boom represents the growing popularity of the sport that should be sold in a neat package for a large television audience, The FIH is quite alive to its limitations in this professional field but has taken the right step in enlisting the International Marketing Group (MG) for a period of six years. At the same time the FIH has also approved more brand names of synthetic pitch manufacturers, taking into account the increasing demands for the turf around the world. India and Pakistan do count as a major entity to FIH. In fact, the two are needed more than ever before to project the beauty of sport to the new generation of viewers, Butin both the countries the progress has been stifled by various factors, not the least of which is factionalism. The slipping down in international ratings has widened the fissures and kas allowed room for cynicism. This is more pronounced in Pakistan where the sport enjoys a different equation, given the passion it generates among the audience over success or failure. The fifth place in Seoul is viewed as a catastrophe and the administration came under heavy fire. The success in the Indira Gandhi tournament at Lucknow however restored the image somewhat.

The hockey administration here too is under strain over its failure in sponsorship deals and confusion over the conduct of the National championship. More than once, the event was postponed on flimsy grounds. The ultimatum by the Sports Ministry 10 go. ahead with the elections added a new dimension to the confusion.

Fortunately the rumblings have not percolated to the level of players who are going through the rigors of training to face the challenges in the Champions Trophy at West Berlin and the Inter Continental at New Jersey between June 10 to July 16. Of the two events the InterContinental carries

more significance for India. A place within the five will help it to make it to the next World Cup in February at Lahore.

More than the competitive value what needs to be stressed at this point is that the game is passing through a great transformation. Almost every country that figured in the Olympics is endeavoring 10 rebuild its squad 10 face a brave new world. Happily, India is also on this threshold. And never again will India have another chance 10 consolidate its strength as a major force 4s in this two months. The signs, no doubt, are encouraging but is the result that ‘matters in the end.

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 30, 1989