These who observe Indian sports activities may well be astonished to discover that India’s national recreation is not cricket, but hockey.
And until about 30 many years in the past, the evidence was there for all to see. Thereafter, the drop was steep. Hockey got Europeanized – the use of synthetic turf designed it a a lot a lot quicker recreation, successfully shifting the emphasis from adhere-function and artistry to speed and passing. In other words and phrases, conditioning took priority about talent.
The end result was the drying up of medals in intercontinental tournaments. Hockey initially highlighted at the Olympics in 1908, when England won. It was upcoming performed in the 1920 version, England received that much too. Thereafter, the pre-war hockey golds had been monopolized by India – participating in below a British flag — in 1928, 1932 and 1936. When the Olympics resumed in 1948, India claimed the hockey gold once again, producing Dhyan Chand the only participant in the history of the video game to acquire 4 Olympic golds.
India’s domination continued soon after independence, and they gained gold at the Olympics in 1952 and 1956. Pakistan who won silver in 1956 emerged as rivals and took gold at the 1960 version of the games. India won it in 1964, and Pakistan won it back in 1968. The seventies saw a gold draught for both groups however Pakistan did earn silver in 1972. India’s final gold at the Olympics came in the 1980 Moscow Olympics an occasion that the Caucasian hockey giants boycotted as did Pakistan.
The very first hockey World Cup was performed in 1971. The next a few editions took location in 1973, 1975 and 1978, and the event was held each and every 4 several years, thereafter. Pakistan designed the inaugural cup their have and Holland took it in 1973. Then came India’s well-known victory in Malaysia, in 1975, and that was the past time Indian hockey stood on major of the environment. Artificial turf was launched and has been blamed ever due to the fact for India’s decline.
But these who see the roots of India’s drop as a hockey superpower in the change to artificial turf are unsuccessful to explain why Pakistan who played the identical sort of sport with emphasis on skill and artistry adapted well to the new scenario and continued to dominate. In reality, Pakistan received the subsequent two planet cups, in 1978 and 1982, the latter event hosted by India. There was a temporary blip as Pakistan unsuccessful to win any medal at the 1986 edition, but went on to collect silver at the 1990 Entire world Cup hosted in Pakistan, and gold at the 1994 version.
India’s decrease commenced in the 70s and Pakistan’s, two decades afterwards. Are there any classes for India, in this? There is a school of argument that contends that Pakistan’s hockey was administered by their army, and the group did best when they had navy rule. There could be a grain of real truth in this, as the Pakistan workforce did ideal in the 1980’s when they experienced relative political security, and a armed service government underneath Typical Zia. All through the exact interval, Pakistan did well in cricket, as well.
The lesson that India can attract from Pakistan’s increase and subsequent fall from hockey grace is that efficiency increases when you can find excellent administration to again it. There is certainly no dearth of expertise, as amply shown in the commonwealth online games, where India arrived back from a two-aim deficit to win the semi-remaining towards England. All which is wanted is administrative will to again the talent. Can India construct on the CWG accomplishment and reclaim their hockey supremacy? Time, as ever, will tell.