I was going to say shocking but it isn't
It was always expected. We were anyway competing for the last place in the Olympics and it was but expected that one day other sides will get better.
Only sad thing is that this is our national sport. Today all TV channels are making it headline news. Maybe if they make it a headline news more often we might actually do well. When the hockey team won Asia cup, no one really cared. It was the second page story. When they lose you make it front page.
Our best hockey player leaves hockey to go to do an mba in ISB(
Rasquinha quits international hockey). I don't see cricketers doing that.
Its very easy to blame Gill, and maybe he is at fault(I still don't get it why he just doesn't quit). But look at the overall picture of hockey. There is this big espn star thurst in hockey thats not worked. It can work if you have some celebs support. There is none. Making a film doesn't really matter. How many people actually support hockey and play it.
I say though that this is the best thing to happen to hockey. Lets hope that after the hue and cry, people will now start afresh. You cannot go any worse than this. Its the nadir point and there is only one way to go and that's to the top.
My suggestions
1) Gill should go. More than anything else cos we need fresh ideas and his best ideas however good aren't working. Plus he has to take responsibility for this debacle.
2) Lets have the former players involved a bit more. Organize coaching sessions and use their talen to manege the sport rather than people who have nothing to do with the sport.
3) I dunno what the hockey guys get, but you have to make the sport lucrative. If Asia cup winners get 1lak each then its a disgrace.
4) Lets pay these celebs to dance at hockey matches in India also
If Neha Dhupia can dance at ICL and get crowds, you might as well do for the PHL. People need to be involved. Have contests, get the people interested.