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19-3 Tamil Nadu the place to be for hockey development in India

2010-03-19 19:03:00

The poor showing of the Indian hockey team after a brilliant start in the 12th Hockey World Cup is no doubt very much disappointing. But the overwhelming crowd response on all the days, even on the days when the Indian team was not playing, has revived hopes of the game in the country, observed a cross section of hockey followers of Tiruchi district.

Tiruchi is one of the major hockey playing centres in the State. The composite Tiruchi district has produced many international hockey stars like C. D. Cleur, Rengadoss and Haridoss brothers, Soosainathan and Cedric D' Souza. Tiruchi was the only district, apart from Chennai, to conduct children's hockey tournament in those days. South zone level and national tournaments were a regular feature here.

Tiruchi was one of the few centres in the country selected for hosting reception to the Indian team which won the third World Cup Hockey tournament held at Kuala Lumpur in 1975. The hockey fans of the central districts converged at Tiruchi to have a glimpse of the members of the victorious Indian team, who were taken around the city in an open truck.

The Ajitpal Singh-led team played an exhibition match against Rest of India XI in the city on the occasion and the stadium was jampacked. All the tournaments held here, including the district league matches, drew huge crowds. Even the then internationals B. P. Govinda and V. J. Philips played for Tiruchi district XI against visiting Sri Lankan team in 1982.

The hockey followers of the district were eagerly waiting for the Delhi World Cup and the dream display by the Indian team in its inaugural match against arch rival Pakistan raised the hopes of one and all. “That was a sensational start which any team will expect to begin with and we all were very thrilled,” said S. Rangarajan, former vice-principal of St. Joseph's College and a former international commentator.

“With such a start, India should have played much better in the following matches. They miserably failed to maintain that tempo and it is the bane of Indian hockey,” he lamented. The good showing of the Indian team in a couple of tournaments prior to World Cup gave renewed hopes. But finishing eighth in the tournament has thoroughly disappointed all of us. There was no reason for the Indian team to surrender so meekly to England and Spain in the league stage. This was despite India proving stronger in all the aspects of the game. “India with the home advantage should have entered the semi finals and that would have brought much joy to us,” observed Khadar Mohideen, a hockey enthusiast

Notwithstanding the Indian team's poor showing, it is the good turnout for all the matches which is a good augury for the revival of interest of hockey.

“Many more were witnessing the live telecast of the matches even in the late evening hours. It is now left to Hockey India to take advantage of the present favourable conditions to develop the game in the country,” added Prof. Rangarajan.

Source Hindu