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| SPORTS TRIBUNE |
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Hockey league a worthy project
Negating the beauty of sport
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Hockey league a worthy project The long mooted national hockey league appears to be on the way to becoming a reality. According to a newsreport which also has quotes from the IHF chief, Mr K.P.S.Gill, and top players like Dhanraj Pillay and Gagan Ajit, the league will make a beginning after the Olympic Games in Athens next year. The national league, as and when it starts, will be the best thing for Indian hockey. A competition, held perhaps on a double leg system, involving the top players of the country, is bound to contribute considerably in the uplift of the standard of the game. In addition a national league would also ensure certain uniformity of style of play which in turn would help the national team evolve its own tactics to meet the challenge at the international level. While it is too early to dwell on the format to be followed for the league it must be emphasized that before coming out with final plan the authorities should take some lessons from the benefits and drawbacks which have affected football after the national league has come into place. There are some fundamental differences between football and hockey though. Football is club-oriented though some institutional teams like SBT, Punjab Police and others do figure in them. But there are no club teams in hockey. In fact it is totally given over to institutions. The fact that no clubs exist at the highest level of the game is one of the biggest tragedies of the country. Whatever clubs exist, do so only at state level. Again the National Football League while benefiting the clubs and players of a few centres has virtually called halt to the game in many of the popular cities, forcing a number of tournaments out of business. Thus though the National Football League is popular in Kolkata, Mumbai, Goa and Kerala, centres like Delhi for instance which used to boast of two of the colourful tournaments in Durand and DCM have suffered. The DCM has virtually closed shop while the what is conducted as Durand is miniature stuff, a tournament of about ten days duration, ending even before it starts to pick up. The hockey authorities should ensure that the national league would not interfere with the major domestic tournaments. For instance the Nehru Hockey Tournament Society conducts its main competition from November 14 to 27. It should be allowed to continue to do so. The same with the major tournament in Kolkata, Punjab and Mumbai and elsewhere. The League should be so scheduled that it becomes an additional competition. It would also be advisable to hold the league in two phases, the first and second legs with a short break. At the same time it should also be rotated to ensure that more and more people get an opportunity to see the top players in action. It is too early to visualise the final shape the league will take. There will be problems of logistics, meeting international commitments, coaching camps and other related issues. Money and sponsorship matters will of course be of primary importance. But for all that it is a very good idea, an idea which has been long in gestation but which will certainly revolutionise the whole game in India once it surfaces. Hockey needs more help, certainly much more importance from the media. It is wrong to judge Indian hockey on the basis of its victories and losses. If that is so then cricket has no business being the booming business it has become. For all its mixed record in international field, India still is among the top 10 countries, if not higher, in the hockey world. No other game in India stands that high. All it needs is bit more projection at the domestic level. |
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Atwal brings natural instincts into play Arjun Atwal’s strength is not only his impeccable technique, but his cool and calculative mind. He is a rare Indian who does not get overawed by the occasion, no matter how big or who the opponents are. He is at ease on any course, no matter what the course of the event is. He brings his natural instincts into play and endeavours dedicatedly to perform to his potential. This has enabled him to make steady progress and he becomes the first Indian to breach into the US PGA Tour, the most prestigious circuit. Atwal, who will display his prowess in the circuit next year, is an exponent who is unlikely to disappoint his many staunch supporters. What provides him immense confidence’s that many established stars have, time and again, impressed upon him that he is inferior to none in the golfing circuit. He draws a leaf out of the illustrious book of Vijay Singh that if a Fiji-born can be one of the leading lights in world golf, why can’t he be or, for that matter, any other Indian. Seve Ballesteros is one of many renowned personalities, who has told him that he can win a major. Undismayed and undaunted by his indifferent display in the first qualifying round, Atwal steadied his game and kept progressing in the remaining five rounds until he achieved his life’s ambition. He is now a part of the big league but he stays modest and resolute. What gives him an additional quantum of satisfaction is that his deeds in this league will improve the image of the country, which has got into competitive mould only recently. Atwal is happy at his achievement but he is happier that his friend-colleague, Daniel Chopra, has also joined him on the US PGA circuit. A student of Modern School, Daniel picked up his golf at the Delhi Golf Club course. Since migrating to Sweden because of his mother, he has grown totally
gray, though he retains the same boyish and mischievous face of the modernite. A seasoned pro, Daniel was undergoing many downs, including paucity of funds. His pro career seemed in jeopardy. His future did not paint a rosy picture. Amidst the exacting circumstances, he rose to make it to the US PGA Tour comfortably. His qualifying saw him heave a sigh of relief that he could continue with pro circuit. Since the tide has turned, Daniel has now cushion of some funds, while Atwal is free from any such worry. One, it is said, is lonely but two make a grand team. Atwal and Chopra, essentially Indians, should inspire each other to announce their arrival in the US PGA Tour in a big way. If Atwal is a rising star, no less proficient is Daniel and both are capable of enhancing their golfing reputation apart from swelling their purses. Jeev Milkha Singh is indeed happy at the success of Atwal and Daniel, but their entry into the US PGA Tour will lead to greater pressure on him than before. But he is a sporting young man, whose amazing sporting family background, should help him join his two colleagues on the summit sooner than later. The Asian and Japanese tours are only slightly inferior to the US PGA Tour. Judging from the doings of some golfing pros, it can be safely said that Indian golf is on the upswing. Apart from these three, there are several others in almost the same league. There is a wave of jubilation as apart from Atwal and Daniel getting into the US PGA Tour, Atwal has also grabbed the Asian PGA Order of Merit title. |
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Negating the beauty of sport Modern sport is a diversion rather than a distraction from the daily drudgery of life. Winning accolades in the form of medals is merely the icing on the cake. Watching any high profile sports event on the tube and then seeing the watchers scream and criticise the game wildly makes us realise that we have forgotten to enjoy the game the way we should. We limit ourselves to the end results. However, the fun, frolic and the thrill associated with winning and the fine tragedy of losing have been lost on us. The results may be important- for each one of us have our own favourites and we all want them to win-but it should be understood that both winning and losing are purely incidental. Football, like any other sport is all about winning, all about getting that goal and all about doing the so called ‘right things' on the field. Modern sport is all about ordinary men possessed and endowed with extraordinary gifts. But goals, points and centuries should not be given undue importance. Cricket in the past, when the game was played by amateurs, it was all about light hearted banter. As the game evolved, it took the form of anger and for a while had a racial tinge to it. Sledging has attained its present form owing to the influx of mega bucks and the growth of the one day game. Now sledging, courtesy the Aussies, has been turned into a fine art. For a sportsman the journey to the top is never an easy one. It is too tough for ordinary mortals to even dream of. The genre of
sportspersons who have made it to the top have nerves of steel and iron pumped into the soul. That's precisely the reason why they are at the top. Physical genius and mental resilience are inbuilt traits of their character. Yet we speak so loosely about speed and skill, power and concentration, which certain men have and others do not. We say India is doomed when Tendulkar is out for a duck. We go mad seeing the crafty Dhanraj Pillay slamming the ball straight to the goaltender's pads. We remember Tendulkar's duck but we conveniently forget his genius. We remember Pillay banging the ball into the keeper's pads. Yet we forget the wizardry in his wrists with which he weaves a deadly web around the dazed defence. Another genius whom a majority of cricket loving people remember only as just as a ‘good' left arm bowler is Wasim Akram. What people don't know is that in his hands a ball performed the contortions more associated with pixies flashing around the skies. His deliveries seemed to have second thoughts halfway down the pitch whereupon they would change direction, thereby confounding the
defences carefully constructed by opponents. It was said that against Akram, at his prime, there could be no security for a piece of wood can not keep at bay charges of electricity. Yet people seem to forget all this. They are more interested in knowing the latest about the diabetes problem of a cricketer was an inspired bowler. Sport is the most unifying influence in today's war ridden scam hit world. Time has come when modern sport must recapture its heart and produce the richness required to take us on a journey from everyday concerns and into another place. |
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Ronaldo world’s most lethal striker His critics claim that he is overweight, his detractors point out that he is slower than before his injuries...but the plain truth is that Ronaldo remains that most lethal striker in world football. And what is most worrying for rival fans and defenders is that, having just turned 27, the Real Madrid hitman still appears to be improving. Not only that, but he’s part of a team that knows him well, after sixteen months, and now gives him exactly the kind of long ball that he loves. Newcomer David Beckham, for example, has quickly learned to play the kind of diagonal ball that Ronaldo relishes — something that Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos and the others learnt more than a year ago. — DPA |
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THE TVS Cup final between India and Australia not only exposed the Indian team’s constant failure to get going in crunch situations but also lack of fighting qualities. I wonder why the team management tampered with the winning combination that outclassed the Kiwis the other day. Also when it was clear that the Eden Garden pitch plays slow in the second session, why didn’t they send some pinch-hitter earlier? The likes of Yuvraj Singh and Ajit Agarkar like the ball to come on the bat and so are better candidates for playing the medium pacers. Moreover, Sehwag is not in great nick, therefore something novel and experimental could have been tried. In games like football and hockey, coaches shout at the players from outside. Cricket being a time-consuming game, the coach and captain can guide the team during intervals. In my view, the Australians earned a few 'points' from this win, but Indians lost many.
— Ramandeep Singh, Bhadaur Gwalior tie At Roop Singh Stadium, Gwalior, it was quite an exciting match that initially appeared to go the Aussie way as they seemed to be cruising to victory despite an impressive total by India. But they were soon eclipsed by our bowling squad. Credit must go to Zaheer. India were able to turn the tide in their favour because of a masterly knock of 100 by Sachin Tendulkar, a well-deserved century (102) by VVS Laxman and subsequently due to some fantastic bowling from Zaheer Khan, Kumble, Tendulkar, Harbhajan and Sehwag. In Laxman, Sachin found an excellent partner and reached his 35th century in a short time (off 117 balls) Though Sehwag was unlucky with the bat, he along with Sachin impressed with their bowling and firmly put India on the path to victory. The efforts of Adam Gilchrist, Mathew Hayden and Nathan Bracken were praiseworthy. Sachin Tendulkar with his stylish exploits with batting and bowling won the praise from millions of cricket fans. In this match India did some incredible batting, brilliant bowling and sensible fielding and decisively won the match beating Aussies in all the departments of the game and indeed it was a timely and well deserved win against Australia. —
Prof Sudhir Ghai, Ludhiana Milkha’s omission The Government of India recently deputed a 50-member delegation, consisting mostly of bureaucrats and sports officials, to Jamaica to bid for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. In this delegation, Sunil Gavaskar, was included although cricket is not included in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, but "Flying Sikh" Milkha Singh, the only Indian, who has so far won a gold medal in athletics in the Commonwealth Games, was not included. Milkha Singh won a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games held at Cardiff (Wales) in 1958. It is a pity that the omission of Milkha Singh from the delegation has not been taken seriously either by the media or by the sports fraternity. — Narinder Singh, Chandigarh |
