Suddenly India has discovered hockey. The entire nation, each and everyone who matters, even those who watch the game for not more than a few minutes, has rushed to the media to vent their grief. And Aslam Sher Khan, former India captain and a robust full back has even launched a "save hockey" campaign and has involved Members of Parliament. All of sudden the country and its many wise men have realized that hockey is a national game.

Thus the feeling of shame and disgrace that followed the loss to Britain in the final of the qualifying tournament in Chile. But one would like to ask all those who are now shouting from roof tops why did they not show the same concern much before this qualifying tournament. The very fact that India were reduced to qualifying for the Olympics should have been a cause for concern. Questions being asked now should have been asked when India were pushed to the fifth spot in the Qatar Asian Games. The writing has been on the wall for quite some years now and India's performance has been on the slide in the Olympics after the gold medal in the truncated Moscow Games of 1980.

It has been struggling to stay in the Olympics after that, having even to play qualifying rounds on occasions. The performance in the World Cup has been equally bad, the best being a fifth place in the Sydney Championship of 1994. It has more often been finishing between 9th and 12th or the last position. That was in the 1986 tournament in London when India was pushed to the last slot by Pakistan which occupied the 11th position. Both had come straight from the Seoul Asian Games and the players were visibly fatigued.

The only saving grace for India was in the Asian continent where it remained, nearly always a contender for the top berth and achieved it finally in the Bangkok Games of 1988. Since then it has surrendered its claim there but has taken hold of the Asia Cup crown on two occasions, the last being in the tournament held in Madras last year. That victory in fact is the only bright spot in the game in recent months. Otherwise the picture is generally gloomy with the final kick coming in the qualifier in Chile.

Now to the present situation with everyone asking question and demanding the head of K.P.S.Gill, the President of the IHF for well over a decade. Frankly there is no use crying over spilt milk. Indian hockey has been on the decline for some time, obvious to all those who have watching it from the 60s. There is no point in judging the game on the basis of its performance at the international level. It has to be judged on the standard prevalent at the domestic level.

The improvement should come there. The public should be able to enjoy the game at the domestic level before comparing the standards on the international platform. The IHF should first revitalize the game at the domestic level before it can talk about performance at the Asian and Olympic grade. And for a start more attention should be placed at the school and university level. Provision must be made for astro turf at the college and university grounds all over the country. It is here that that Ministry and state governments come in. The IHF has to take the blame but it alone cannot do the job. The State and central governments must also help.

Whether K.P.S.Gill goes or stays is quite immaterial if the standard continues to be poor. The emphasis should be on the standards of the game. And while on the subject it would be pertinent to ask all those who are shouting in the media about the "shame" of Indian hockey why was no personnel from the media represent at the venue in Chile. This goes for both the print and visual media. If they could send people to cover a cricket series in Australia in great numbers why not a handful of journalists to Chile to cover the hockey? There is no point in blaming the entire world when those with the most powerful weapons are sitting at home.

-Syndicate Features