01/05/08
NEW DELHI: "We should relax to some extent, but we have to work very hard. Everyone should combine and should help hockey to grow in our country like cricket. So if hockey is played like cricket, then we will become once again the world beaters. I am sure, there wouldn't be any problem," said an optimistic former Indian hockey captain Zafar Iqbal, one of the five members of the IOA appointed selection committee.
Indian hockey has been through a tumultuous journey for the past two decades. But with the 'aam janta' and media not taking things for granted, the chaos has finally ended. April 28, 2008 opened a new chapter in Indian hockey, when the controversial reigns were snatched away from the long serving President of Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) KPS Gill on charges of corruption and degrading the standards of the national sport. In a unanimous decision it was decided by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) that the IHF should be dissolved. The Gill era was bound to end."The decision has been taken unanimously by the IOA on this pretext that the functioning of the IHF is not in the right line or right direction. A lot of public pressure was also there. Everyone was trying best possible way to keep him out. Finally, the sting operation forced the Indian Olympic Association to take this drastic step. The public was also not in favour of the same body to continue in future," said Iqbal."Lots of media people were against him (KPS Gill). He was not answering to their questions," added the former Olympian.The IOA was triggered off to take the extreme step in the wake of the recent bribery scandal involving IHF secretary K Jothikumaran. The second man in command was caught in the sting operation done by a news channel, taking bribe for selecting a player for the national team."Earlier, there was no proof available. Only after the (bribing) scandal, then to a great extent there was a proof that something is going wrong in the selection process. And in selection if it is happening like this, like conducting international tournaments then there must be something wrong there also," said the former Indian hockey captain."So that was the main reason for dissolving the body (IHF). The media was also personally against Gill because he was not very co-operative with the press," added Iqbal.The whole operation of creating a new revolution in Indian hockey was further triggered with the IOA receiving a letter from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to take appropriate action so as not to endanger India’s chances of hosting the World Cup in 2010."FIH is the international body and it is very much affiliated with the International Olympic Committee, and every international body like FIH and followed by Indian Olympic Association they have to follow or abide by all the rules of the Olympic charter.”"So as per the condition, they might have taken some legal opinion in this matter. I believe the IOA has also received a letter from FIH to look into the matter and see action must be taken against the existing body. So the IOA must have taken this line of action also," expressed Iqbal.The IOA announced that it would form a five-member committee that would look into the selection matters. Besides Iqbal, the five-member committee includes Aslam Sher Khan (chairman), Ashok Kumar, Ajitpal Singh, and Dhanraj Pillay. And the new brigade would ensure that the Indian hockey relives its glorious past once again."We want that hockey should get its popularity in a positive way. Youngsters should play more and more hockey so that hockey standards should go up in our own country. We have very important tournaments ahead, the World Cup, the Commonwealth Games and many more in between. So we want people should help promote hockey in all way. If hockey wants money, then facilities should be provided at base level also. So all these things should be there, otherwise it would be difficult for us to come up to the old glory."With the buzz doing rounds of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) being instrumental in providing aid to various other sports in India, Iqbal seems to be hopeful that the Indian cricket body would lend a helping hand to the national sport too, if required."They (BCCI) were cooperating in providing funds to the different federations for bringing up their games, say may be in hockey, and other games also. They have huge amount of money. They wanted to share some part of their amount with other federations to raise the standards in other games.""The ad hoc body will see to it, what line of action they want to take. And it will come out may be in near future," said Iqbal.For the moment, the selection reigns are in the hands of the five wise men. And the thinking hats would leave no stone unturned to revive the sport. It looks like Indian hockey has done a real 'Chak de' this time around. Perhaps, this was the much awaited turning point needed to improve the standards of the game that has hit its nadir.
The Times of India
Indian hockey has been through a tumultuous journey for the past two decades. But with the 'aam janta' and media not taking things for granted, the chaos has finally ended. April 28, 2008 opened a new chapter in Indian hockey, when the controversial reigns were snatched away from the long serving President of Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) KPS Gill on charges of corruption and degrading the standards of the national sport. In a unanimous decision it was decided by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) that the IHF should be dissolved. The Gill era was bound to end."The decision has been taken unanimously by the IOA on this pretext that the functioning of the IHF is not in the right line or right direction. A lot of public pressure was also there. Everyone was trying best possible way to keep him out. Finally, the sting operation forced the Indian Olympic Association to take this drastic step. The public was also not in favour of the same body to continue in future," said Iqbal."Lots of media people were against him (KPS Gill). He was not answering to their questions," added the former Olympian.The IOA was triggered off to take the extreme step in the wake of the recent bribery scandal involving IHF secretary K Jothikumaran. The second man in command was caught in the sting operation done by a news channel, taking bribe for selecting a player for the national team."Earlier, there was no proof available. Only after the (bribing) scandal, then to a great extent there was a proof that something is going wrong in the selection process. And in selection if it is happening like this, like conducting international tournaments then there must be something wrong there also," said the former Indian hockey captain."So that was the main reason for dissolving the body (IHF). The media was also personally against Gill because he was not very co-operative with the press," added Iqbal.The whole operation of creating a new revolution in Indian hockey was further triggered with the IOA receiving a letter from the International Hockey Federation (FIH) to take appropriate action so as not to endanger India’s chances of hosting the World Cup in 2010."FIH is the international body and it is very much affiliated with the International Olympic Committee, and every international body like FIH and followed by Indian Olympic Association they have to follow or abide by all the rules of the Olympic charter.”"So as per the condition, they might have taken some legal opinion in this matter. I believe the IOA has also received a letter from FIH to look into the matter and see action must be taken against the existing body. So the IOA must have taken this line of action also," expressed Iqbal.The IOA announced that it would form a five-member committee that would look into the selection matters. Besides Iqbal, the five-member committee includes Aslam Sher Khan (chairman), Ashok Kumar, Ajitpal Singh, and Dhanraj Pillay. And the new brigade would ensure that the Indian hockey relives its glorious past once again."We want that hockey should get its popularity in a positive way. Youngsters should play more and more hockey so that hockey standards should go up in our own country. We have very important tournaments ahead, the World Cup, the Commonwealth Games and many more in between. So we want people should help promote hockey in all way. If hockey wants money, then facilities should be provided at base level also. So all these things should be there, otherwise it would be difficult for us to come up to the old glory."With the buzz doing rounds of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) being instrumental in providing aid to various other sports in India, Iqbal seems to be hopeful that the Indian cricket body would lend a helping hand to the national sport too, if required."They (BCCI) were cooperating in providing funds to the different federations for bringing up their games, say may be in hockey, and other games also. They have huge amount of money. They wanted to share some part of their amount with other federations to raise the standards in other games.""The ad hoc body will see to it, what line of action they want to take. And it will come out may be in near future," said Iqbal.For the moment, the selection reigns are in the hands of the five wise men. And the thinking hats would leave no stone unturned to revive the sport. It looks like Indian hockey has done a real 'Chak de' this time around. Perhaps, this was the much awaited turning point needed to improve the standards of the game that has hit its nadir.
The Times of India
