Pargat: We need 5 years

10/05/08
OLYMPIAN Pargat Singh is of the opinion that Indian hockey will need at least five more years to wake up from the deep slumber that they are in today.
Pargat, a terror of a defender who also had an uncanny ability to dribble with one hand and score goals, was made the team manager for Azlan Shah Cup after Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president K.P.S. Gill and secretary Jothi Kumaran were unceremoniously sacked by the Indian Olympic Council last month.
Jothi was caught on tape, by a television network sting, allagedly accepting money for the inclusion of a 16-year-old player in the Azlan Shah Cup team, and in the resulting investigation, the IHF president was also forced to resign.
"India is not in a good shape today, and we will have to start by forming a stronger base and stop firing coaches after every tournament as a short-term solution.
"This is to prepare for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and World Cups, and after that, our long term goal will be to be ready to make an impact again in the 2014 World Cup," said Pargat.
He is of the opinion that India has two strenghts which will see it re-emerge as a hockey power again.
"We have a huge fan base world-wide, and the marketing is limitless once we start producing results again. This should be enough motivation for whoever takes over the IHF administration after this," said Pargat. After the TV sting, Pargat was among the selectors who chose a 'new' team for the Azlan Shah Cup. There are 11 juniors in the Azlan Shah Cup team, and they have been on the receiving end in two matches so far. Pargat, who retired with 313 caps, of which he was skipper for 168 matches from 1983 to 1997, is now the Punjab Director of Sports, and in the midst of planning for six-a-side artificial pitches in his state.
"We only have four artificial pitches in Punjab, and that is surely not enough. So, we are planning to have more mini-pitches, where six-a-side hockey can be played, and at the same time, youth will learn their basics on the artificial pitches and mature faster," said Pargat.
His parting words: "It is easy to talk and draw up plans, but to realise it, we need sincere officials and administrators."