| | Hockey - India fails to qualify for the olympics
Posted in Other Sports; Eight-time gold medallists India failed to make it to the Olympics for the first time since their debut in 1928.
Scoring twice in the first-half, Britain ended India'... | 
10-03-08, 09:06 AM
 | Insane Wella Spinning Around | | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Nickels: 140.16 | |  Hockey - India fails to qualify for the olympics
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Eight-time gold medallists India failed to make it to the Olympics for the first time since their debut in 1928.
Scoring twice in the first-half, Britain ended India's Olympic dreams with a 2-0 win in the final of the World Hockey qualifying tournament at the Prince of Wales Country Club, here.
Barry Middleton (4th minute) and Richard Mantell (10th) struck for Britain who then showed the discipline and character to withstand intense pressure in the late night match to emerge deserving winners while qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
While the Britain players celebrated to the accompaniment of the song "We are the Champions", the Indian, heads bowed, shoulders slumped, could only watch the jubilant scenes of a team that played smarter if not better hockey.
On the day, it was Britain who showed a lot of steel in dealing with the massive pressure they were subjected to by the Indian forwards. The difference was that Britain, who had beaten India 3-2 in the league, capitalized on the two early chances that came their way, while the Indians did not.
In contrast, India could never really settle down and the two yellow cards to their key players, midfielder Sardara Singh and forward Prabhjot Singh filled their cup of woe. It brought the number of yellow cards to five in three matches.
India also blew five penalty corners with neither Ramachandra Raghunath with his drag-flicks nor Dilip Tirkey with his direct hits able to convert. In fact, their set-piece drill in the second-half was rather pathetic, as the ball was not even stopped cleanly.
Britain's first-half tactics were fairly obvious and that was to seize early initiative. Two goals within the first 10 minutes put them firmly in front while pushing India on the backfoot.
While Britain's performance slick and sure, the Indians struggled to get going. The two teams were a study in contrast with Britain sticking to basics of close marking, quick release and positional play.
In contrast, India seemed to run out of ideas and there was predictability in their attacks with the long balls to the wings in much use. However, on the day, Britain defence was near flawless in trapping and clearing.
Middleton scrambled the ball in from a Ashley Jackson pass with the Indian defence caught square in the very fourth minute and then Richard Mantell drag-flicked a 10th minute penalty corner to put Britain on top.
India did knit together a few moves, but at the finish, it was the same old tale of wrong passes and at times, too much of individual play. With the time ticking by, India made desperate attempts force a penalty corner and finally succeeded in the 31st minute. But Raghunath failed to beat goalkeeper Alistair McGregor.
A little earlier, Sardara Singh was sent out with two green cards in the 26th minute and his absence meant another round of reshuffling that affected Indian team balance.
In between the Indian attacks, Britain squeezed a couple of more raids and nearly scored twice with Jackson and then Tindall shooting wide of target.
On resumption, the Indians attacked with some urgency, but they suffered a setback when Prabhjot Singh was sent out with a yellow card suspension for deliberate stick-chek. Yet again, it limited India's options while leaving a huge hole in the frontline.
India's persistence fetched them their second penalty corner in the 47th minute, but goalkeeper McGregor easily blocked Dilip Tirkey's direct hit.
Seven minutes later, India forced three penalty corners in quick succession, but twice Ignace Tirkey and then Shivendra Singh failed to stop the ball. Worse still, Ignace limped off the field after being struck on the knee by the British charger.
At the other end, goalkeeper Baljit Singh kept India in the game with some good saves as Britain wasted three penalty corners.
Even as Indians grew in desperation, Britain kept their composure to survive the vital final moments of a match that barely rose to expectations in terms of quality, though did not lack intensity and passion.
Earlier, Russia defeated Austria 6-3 to finish overall third while Chile overcame Mexico 9-3 in the play-off for 5-6 positions.
Final standings:
1. Great Britain
2. India
3. Russia
4. Austria
5. Chile
6. Mexico.
Special awards: Austria (Fairplay Trophy), Alejandro Vargas Garcia (Mexico, best goalkeeper), Felipe Montegu (Chile, topscorer, 11 goals), Prabhjot Singh (India, player of the tournament).
| Source : NDTV.com: Britain ends India's Olympic dream
This is just a pathetic thing to happen  
now what happened to all the chak de asslogans  |
10-03-08, 07:59 PM
 | Insane Wella Admin | | | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Nickels: 39,735.46 | |  Re: Hockey - India fails to qualify for the olympics
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.
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10-03-08, 09:49 PM
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magnetominge | | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mumbai Nickels: 451.00 | | Re: Hockey - India fails to qualify for the olympics
all hockey needs is a concentrated effort from a few good men. It needs better marketing, better event handling, more tournaments, more visibility. If the corporates cannot come forward to do all this, then the government needs to pitch in.. it is the national sports for gods sake!! 
Besides, safin where is the place to play hockey man? u can play cricket and football almost everywhere, but u cant do the same with hockey....which is a big minus... one innovation could be galli hockey which could be a big hit (offcourse need to work on how to make it work).
sadly i do not see any of what i said or what safin said happening anytime soon... PHL came and PHL went who watches it? |
11-03-08, 02:58 AM
| Insane Wella Spinning Around | | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Nickels: 140.16 | | Re: Hockey - India fails to qualify for the olympics
^^ I didn't. They can also play chak de free of cost in all the theatres across india and make ppl aware of it. I guess many in india think cricket to be the national sport 
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11-03-08, 02:27 PM
| Insane Wella Admin | | | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Nickels: 39,735.46 | | Re: Hockey - India fails to qualify for the olympics
No one is going to start playing hockey after watching Chak De 
Unless you promote the actual sport which can only happen once you put in some money into it and get people to watch it, its not going to happen. Quote: |
Originally Posted by chic_magnet Besides, safin where is the place to play hockey man? u can play cricket and football almost everywhere, but u cant do the same with hockey....which is a big minus... one innovation could be galli hockey which could be a big hit (offcourse need to work on how to make it work). | You are right. But that holds for say tennis also. I mean you can still play tennis in your lawn. You can play hockey same way. Unfortunately we in India don't build our open lawns and fields for any sport. There are so many holes and undulations that you can only play football or cricket there. In Germany for example they have such superb grounds even for kids that they love to play the sports.
And i cannot believe that even schools can't provide good facilities. We call it national sport but do nothing to encourage it. In sports classes at school i don't think anyone ever played hockey 
Well then accept that its not the sport for India and give the thurst to say football. But we don't even do that
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11-03-08, 02:57 PM
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FE RockStar | | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NEW DELHI Nickels: 62.60 | | Re: Hockey - India fails to qualify for the olympics
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Originally Posted by Agnel  ^^ I didn't. They can also play chak de free of cost in all the theatres across india and make ppl aware of it. I guess many in india think cricket to be the national sport | I agree with AGNI. Now a days people are so crazy abut cricket that they are trying to teach their children that HOCKEY is not a good game, as if it is a NATIONAL game.  
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11-03-08, 07:18 PM
| Insane Wella Spinning Around | | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Nickels: 140.16 | | Re: Hockey - India fails to qualify for the olympics
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Originally Posted by Safin No one is going to start playing hocket after watching Chak De
Unless you promote the actual sport which can only happen once you put in some money into it and get people to watch it, its not going to happen.
You are right. But that holds for say tennis also. I mean you can still play tennis in your lawn. You can play hockey same way. Unfortunately we in India don't build our open lawns and fields for any sport. There are so many holes and undulations that you can only play football or cricket there. In Germany for example they have such superb grounds even for kids that they love to play the sports.
And i cannot believe that even schools can't provide good facilities. We call it national sport but do nothing to encourage it. In sports classes at school i don't think anyone ever played hockey
Well then accept that its not the sport for India and give the thurst to say football. But we don't even do that | Why not?
Awareness is what ppl lack.
Btw, why can't SRK shell out some amount to build academies for hockey across india? All are after money
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11-03-08, 07:30 PM
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Medic on call!! | | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: diamond city Nickels: 1,227.63 | | Re: Hockey - India fails to qualify for the olympics
What i feel is Hockey was going this way ever since politicians and babus have started poking their nose in administration of sports.
The was i have been following the indian hockey the performance has been lacklustre over the years.
Infact this came cool 10 years late. I was expecting Indian team to drop out of hockey olympic berth in 1996 days those years too it was pathetic show.
There is no grooming program.
No infrastructure. Even where, there are artificial surfaces are not properly maintained. Even tiny country like Netherlands has a lot of Artficial surfaces.
I am a fan of sports specially where India is involved, and this bottom has hit my sentiments, but in a sense I see a ray of hope it in, because it may spark a revolution of change.
Otherways i dont believe hockey can be a mass sport, as it does not have much TV appeal, the way game keeps on stopping for fouls its way too irritating. Games administration has to change the rules in such a way that game flow is smooth and average Tom and Dick can understand the game.
And no TV compatibility means the game is going to be doomed in India.
Same way Chess, Badminton (it can be glamourous sport but has been kept under cover) are not happening sports in India. Our sportperson excel in this regard in their own capacity as both the sports are individual.
While look at Tennis (glamour personified), F-1 (TV omoprtance kept in mind, Glamour thrown in, aggressive marketing) and they are running away with money.
I strongly believe Soccer can be a good option for India to excel in but a look at the head of AIFF and my head bows in shame.
So this is one more chapter in Indian Sports which can be better forgotten and needs a fresh ideas and a rejuvenating start, hope it comes soon.
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11-03-08, 07:44 PM
| Insane Wella Spinning Around | | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Nickels: 140.16 | | Re: Hockey - India fails to qualify for the olympics
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but in a sense I see a ray of hope it in, because it may spark a revolution of change.
| the same happened with cricket doc 
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12-03-08, 12:30 AM
| Insane Wella Admin | | | | Join Date: Jul 2006 Nickels: 39,735.46 | | Re: Hockey - India fails to qualify for the olympics
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Originally Posted by Agnel Why not?
Awareness is what ppl lack.
Btw, why can't SRK shell out some amount to build academies for hockey across india? All are after money | I refuse to accept this flawed reasoning.
Its as if i work hard to earn money and then i am forced to put my money into something which will bring me no returns just because i need to show support for the cause.
Why should SRK do that?
He is not running a charity show.
He did a movie which is great and as much as he should have done. Popularizing a sport is the job of the administrators of the sport not of the people. If they make it popular(marketing, getting events around the sports and all) people will watch and celebs and companies will put in money.
You cannot
1) force peol,e to watch a sport
2) force anyone to put his money into the sport.
If SRK put his money into cricket then its purely from a business point of view and he hopes to recover his investment and make a profit. Not that it might not happen in Hockey but if you do a risk analysis, there is a heavy probability of loss in Hockey compared to cricket.
I know its a vicios cycle, no money, the sport can't develop and neither will the people watch which in turn means no sponsors and no money again
Only the federation and the long standing organizations who are supporting hockey can break this deadlock.
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