2005 Bharatiya Hockey Guestbook

Number of Visitors

Name: Parduman Singh Soi
Email: parduman@yahoo.com
Organization: Indian Navy
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: -
Comments:
I welcome any kind of effort to promote the game of hockey, so I will go along with the Premier Hockey League (PHL). But I would like to make a point here - we need to concentrate at the school level in parallel.

When I passed out from school, there used to be football and hockey grounds to play. Within the past five years, the available playground size shrunk to the size of a basketball court. Five years further down the line, there will not be space to play even 'staappu' in some schools. Naturally, cricket takes over because it is more practical to play galli cricket than galli hockey.

Today, any housing society in the cities has approximately 15 floors, with almost 4 flats on each floor, for a total of 60 households per building. Each flat has two kids on an average, for a total of 120 kids. How many building societies have earmarked even 120 square feet for kids to play? And when some open space gets available - parking area for cars takes priority over play area for the kids.

At times, I give up hope for our kids. The idea of hockey for them will be watching PHL indoors on ESPN/Star Sports, rather than going out and trying to become a Dhanraj or a Shaheed. Hope this registers with the people who run the show - Gill, or anybody else for that matter.

Name: Inderjeet Singh Soi
Email: inderjeetsoi@rediffmail.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Word of Mouth
Comments:
I think the Indian Hockey Federation needs to be powerful and stand against the rules which are being imposed on us. It was this subcontinent who popularised hockey as a sport, but now most of the rules are favouring Europeans.

Our hockey federation should come out strong like the Indian cricket board, and make their presence felt in the international hockey community.

Name: Alban
Email: wajalban@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: N/A
Willing to Support: Undecided
May we contact you: No
Reference: -
Comments:

Name: Sunny
Email: sun@7tage-auktionen.de
Organization: -
How can you help: Monetarily
Willing to Support: No
May we contact you: No
Reference: PlanetFieldHockey.com
Comments:
You surely have one of the most interesting sites on the net. I believe in your way of doing, so go on this way. It's surely the right way.

Name: Prasad Sawant
Email: pdsaw@rediffmail.com
Home Page: http://www.marathashaadi.com
Organization: MarathaShaadi.com
How can you help: Monetarily
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
We have started a new website for Maratha people called MarathaShaadi.com. Please tell your Maratha hockey people about it, as they may be interested.

Name: N. Saravana Kumar
Email: saravanakumar_n1@rediffmail.com
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:

Name: Colin Jacob
Email: colinjacob@sensient-tech.com
Organization: Sensient Technologies
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: PlanetFieldHockey.com
Comments:
Hi, I have lots of contacts in Australia with reference to international coaches and administrators, who will surely be beneficial to Indian hockey in the future.

Name: Kenneth Russell
Email: sxyguy882000@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Undecided
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
I have an exclusively made for Mohinder Gill field hockey stick made in India - classic, Olympic model.

Name: Chandrashekar
Email: cp103@rediffmail.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
Please put more positive comments on your site. Rather than criticise the PHL, do something to improve it. Hockey is such a great and exciting game. Thanks to the PHL, I can go home after work and watch all the India players in action.

Now we know who really performs. From what we have seen so far, Dhanraj really needs to call it a day. He should retire gracefully when there is still respect for him. In the first half of the PHL, Dhanraj has not scored a single goal. More often than not, he loses the ball or passes to an opponent. The only thing he seems to do consistently is appeal against any decision of the umpire. Learn to play to the whistle, man!

In my opinion, the greatest player India has had since Dhyan Chand is Mohammad Shaheed, a player who could split any defence in the modern version of hockey. Dhanraj is nothing compared to him. Shaheed deserves more coverage on your site, and a lifetime achievement award.

Name: Beth A. Abbott
Email: jaba@patmedia.net
Organization: High School Coach
How can you help: N/A
Willing to Support: Undecided
May we contact you: No
Reference: Google
Comments:

Name: Anupama Mohite
Email: ulkaumaa@yahoo.co.in
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: -
Reference: Google
Comments:

Name: Kulvinder Singh Saini
Email: sainikulvindersingh@rediffmail.com
Organization: Shaheed Kanshi Ram College of Physical Education, Bhagoo Majra (Ropar district)
How can you help: N/A
Willing to Support: Undecided
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Someone Else's Page
Comments:
I'm thankful to all of you who created and are maintaining this site. It helps me know and teach all about hockey to my students.

Name: Chandrakumar Rengasamy
Email: ckrenga@hotmail.com
Organization: Bell South
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:

Name: Kuldip Singh
Email: ksingh@sympatico.ca
Organization: -
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
I was browsing on the net and doing a search for Indian hockey when I came across this site. When I saw Pat Jansen's picture in the Calcutta Port Commissioners colours, tears welled up in my eyes. For almost twenty years, I donned that colour.

It's sad to hear about Vivek Singh's death. Every time we played the Inter-Railway Hockey Tournament, we were together. I had the opportunity to play with almost all the stars of Indian hockey such as Surjeet, Aslam, Ashok, Govinda and Bhaskaran.

Name: Milos Stipancevic
Email: stipancevic@tippnet.co.yu
Organization: Player, Coach
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Yahoo
Comments:

Name: Kenneth Russell
Email: jingles@aol.com
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
I have an Olympic field hockey stick "made exclusively for Mohinder Gill". The maker of the stick is Pt. Sohan Lal. It is a "classic Olympic model made in India". It has an Olympic crest on it, and has a registration number 244610. The stick is for sale, you can contact me at (541) 912-0840.

Name: Sivasubramanian
Email: sivasubramanian.sha@gmail.com
Organization: Student
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
I came to know about this site from my friend's collection of Indian hockey sites.

Name: Jagdev Singh
Email:
Organization: Sikh Naujawan Satsang
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Undecided
Reference: Google
Comments:
Indian hockey is very good.

Name: Vishal Vijjan
Email: vishal.vijjan@india.birlasoft.com
Organization: Birlasoft Ltd.
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: -
Comments:

Name: Charles Gaudoin
Email: charles.gaudoin@unitedcreditunion.com.au
Organization: -
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
I was born in India, and have always supported Indian hockey. I have been in Australia for 35 years, and have played and coached at the State level with some success for around 15 years. My son Paul Gaudoin was the captain of the Kookaburras.

I feel I could offer the Indian national team a new 'beginning' that will bring stability and cohesion. I have the advantage of understanding the Indian people, and have a genuine desire to see them move up the rankings.

Name: Amrik Sembi
Email: amriksembi@hotmail.com
Organization: Sikh Union
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:

Name: S. K. Sinha
Email: sunil_priti@yahoo.com
Organization: WCL
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: -
May we contact you: -
Reference: -
Comments:

Name: Aman Dhal
Email: aman_dhal@yahoo.co.in
Home Page: http://www.thecampuspaper.com
Organization: The Campus Paper
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Other, I'll explain below
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
It is good that a website like this is helping Indian hockey regain its lost glory. I am a journalist from a student's fortnightly magazine 'The Campus Paper'. I would love to do my part so that hockey can be again popular in our country.

Name: S. Lakra
Email: slakra@ub.nic.in
Organization: Ministry of Heavy Industries
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: No
Reference: Yahoo
Comments:
Need more news and articles on hockey in the countryside.

Name: Brian Mueller
Email: mueller.brian@gmail.com
Organization: Truman State University
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: -
May we contact you: -
Reference: -
Comments:
I am looking for more information on Mohinder Gill. I have a field hockey stick with a 1964 Tokyo Olympiad sticker that was made for him.

Name: Dil Bahra
Email: dilbahra@aol.com
Organization: Hockey Writers' Club
How can you help: N/A
Willing to Support: N/A
May we contact you: N/A
Reference: Google
Comments:
This is an excellent site with lots of information. I read with interest the article 'Victory Among the Chrysanthemums', excerpted from the book "The Story of the Olympics" by Melville de Mellow. Can we use this article in a hockey brochure we are producing next month highlighting the Sikh Hockey Olympians? Full credit will be given to the author and to your website. I am also interested in any article on Balbir Singh Sr. Thanks.

Name: Zoltan Kun Sabo
Email: kszrobi@024wifi.net
Organization: Hockey Club (oldboys.co.sr)
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: -
May we contact you: -
Reference: PlanetFieldHockey.com
Comments:

Name: S. K. Soni
Email: s_k_soni@hotmail.com
Home Page: http://www.indiangymkhanaclub.co.uk
Organization: Indian Gymkhana Club, London
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
I would like to see India become one of the world's top hockey teams.

Name: Colin Jacob
Email: colinjacob@sensient-tech.com
Organization: Sensient Technologies
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: PlanetFieldHockey.com
Comments:
I was your visitor of the month some time ago. I am following IHF's plans to appoint the national hockey coach. With the game so highly developed to suit the foreigners, would it not be better to appoint a foreign coach?

Probably the German Rach was not good enough but I personally know some Australians who would fit the role (for example, the dynamic forward Michael Brennan).

I am positive results will come our way with a foreign coach. Please forward this mail to Jyothikumaran, with whom I have had some connections in the past. Thanks, Jacob

Name: Meg Slater
Email: mimi_bag_2003@yahoo.com
Organization: Archbishop Murphy High School
How can you help: N/A
Willing to Support: No
May we contact you: No
Reference: Google
Comments:
I feel hockey is an exhilarating sport. I am very interested in Indian hockey.

Name: Ted Hamilton
Email: ted_hamilton1263@hotmail.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Monetarily
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
Keep up the good work.

Name: Bikramjit Singh
Email: vickymoga@yahoo.com
Organization: Golden Hockey Club, Moga (hockey umpire)
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
Every year we used to organise two Punjab state-level junior hockey boys tournaments. All top academies participated in both the tournaments.

We organised these tournaments for the past 9 years, and many of the participants are now playing for India. For example, players like Deepak Thakur, Prabhjyot Singh, Jugraj Singh, Kamalpreet Singh.

If we want to improve Indian hockey, we should focus attention on junior-level hockey, we should organise more u-17 and u-19 tournaments, and we should avoid politics in hockey.

I am now living in Finland, but hockey has always been living in my heart. I love hockey and pray for hockey always.

Name: Neeraj Anand
Email: neerajanand76@indiatimes.com
Organization: Sports Event Management Company
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: PlanetFieldHockey.com
Comments:
As I am a keen hockey lover for so many years, I would like you to update me about the current happenings on the Indian senior hockey team, their performances and their monthly calendar.

I would also like to know who captained India to the title victory in the 1995 Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament in Malaysia, when Bhaskaran was the coach. Regards, Neeraj Anand.

Name: Manjeet Matharu
Email: manjeet.matharu@btinternet.com
Organization: Sikh Union (Nottingham) Hockey Club
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: -
Reference: Google
Comments:
I am interested in acquiring video of the the semi-finals (India vs. Malaysia) and the final (India vs. Pakistan) of the 1975 Kuala Lumpur World Cup Hockey. The video can be either in DVD format or video VHS format. Can any one assist? I will pay the cost involved.

Name: Serian Ganesh
Email: serian.ganesh@virgin.net
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Undecided
May we contact you: -
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
I found this site while searching on the net.

Name: Bikramjit Singh
Email: vickymoga@yahoo.com
Organization: Golden Hockey Club, Moga (hockey umpire)
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
Indian hockey's future is presently in the hands of coach Rajinder Singh. I think he will be a good coach - he knows modern hockey and is a hard worker. Rajinder has always given importance to fitness.

My best wishes always will be with Rajinder and the Indian hockey team. Let the selection of the players be without politics, do what is best for the team.

Name: Kannappan
Email: kann_ram@yahoo.com
Organization: Citibank
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
The Indian hockey team is losing in the Azlan Shah tournament because of politics played by K. P. S. Gill and Jyothikumaran. Include players like Dhanraj Pillai, Gagan Ajeet Singh and other experienced players to improve the Indian team's performance.

The ultimate loss is to Indian hockey. Kindly chuck out both Gill and Jyothikumaran from their posts in the IHF.

Name: D. A. Muthana
Email: muthana@md5.vsnl.net.in
Organization: L&T ECC Group, Chennai
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Undecided
Reference: Yahoo
Comments:
I was fortunate to be in Kula Lumpur to watch the India - Pakistan match in the Azlan Shah tournament on Wednesday 1.6.05. I would like to share my views of that match.

The Indian team, of which I am always a supporter, looked a loser even before the match began. The body language was sloppy, the warm up was lethargic, the players were not cohesive and the coach was not blending with them.

In contrast, the Pakistani team came onto the field as a disciplined set of players, their warm up was such that all players went through the routine of shooting practice, the captain looked extremely confident and even gave a press/television interview on the sidelines of the field before the match. In short, the Pakistani players were fit and ready in mind and body to play the game from the opening whistle. And that was exactly what happened with them earning a penalty corner within the first 45 seconds!

The Indian team were completely out of sorts in the first half. 2 half chances of deflections were missed by Deepak Thakur and Sandeep Michael. Deepak and Prabhjyot could not trap the ball cleanly, thus breaking the rhythm of the attack. The defenders were not understanding each other, especially Len and Devesh, which ultimately led to the 3rd. goal scored against us. Rajpal and others hung on to the ball too long.

It was a scene of pathos at the stadium. The Pakistani supporters were getting louder in their cheers. I had half a mind to walk out of the stadium at the break when we were 0-3 down, but my faith in the Indian team made me stay on for the 2nd half.

The team was transformed and fired up when play resumed in the second half. The true Indian world class hockey surfaced and we saw our first real chance with the penalty stroke given in our favour.

The nervousness of Arjun Halappa (don't blame him) combined with pure bad luck saw a perfect push hitting the bottom of the left post. Devender, sensing Arjun's disappointment, encouraged and pumped up Arjun's spirits to forget what had happened and renew attacks on the Pakistani goal.

We could see the Pakistani team wilting, leaving gaps and slackening their game. This was taken advantage of by Prabhjyot and Rajpal, who often times snatched the ball from the Pakistani defenders in their own half.

One of these moves earned India a long corner. A clean ground shot by Rajpal saw Sandeep divert the ball from a fairly odd angle. This was the second goal for India - the first coming from a Dileep Tirkey score from a Len shot rebound off the Pak goal keeper. Had Arjun been not been unlucky with the penalty stroke, the story would have been definitely a win for India with a score of 4-3 at the least.

But, it was too late. Pakistan defended themselves by superb deflections of Len's thundering drag flicks and kept possession of the ball in the last 3 minutes.

India has the talent, the world class capability and the determination, but the MOTIVATION is missing. It is definitely not the money, it is the administration, the coach, the manager, the team psychologist and others who should bring out the best from the team. The professionalism in matters of strategies and team work is lacking.

A Dhanraj Pillai or a Govinda was missing in the Indian team - the fighting spirit was lacking.

It is the attitude that matters and the IHF has an obligation to the Indian hockey fans to address such issues before they point fingers at the players or the coaches. The IHF has to set its house right, only then can it get the best out of our players. The IHF have to take quite a few lessons from the BCCI.

Three cheers to Dileep Tirkey and his team. I wish them all the best in the future and have the fervent hope that the Indian hockey team will come back with a bang! I hope we will be able see a transformation beginning with this year's Champions Trophy.

Best Wishes,
D. A. Muthana

Name: Marinoes
Email: mani61746@yahoo.uk.co
Organization: -
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: -
Comments:
Why is there no voice of fans in the Indian hockey setup? Fans like us who sit and read what each other write on the bulletin boards. Why cannot we come together and play a role?

Indian hockey will continue to suffer, irrespective of whether there is a Gill or even a Batra at the top. They are all from the same boat. Let's have a great name like Ashok Kumar in the IHF setup. Dignified in every respect, I am sure a man like him will bring the glint back into the game in India.

Name: Cheema Preet
Email: cheema.harpreet82@rediffmail.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Undecided
May we contact you: Undecided
Reference: Google
Comments:
Indian hockey players are quite talented. Gagan Ajit is my favourite player, and this site provides me with much information about him. Best wishes to the Indian hockey team forever.

Name: Pragati Jain
Email: cans@satyam.net.in
Organization: Travel Agent
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
Dear Viren, Today I saw your picture in the newspaper with a broken wrist. I thought of sending you my very special get well wishes. Not just the Indian hockey team, but we all miss you too. Please take good care, as you are our future. Will wait for your reply. All the best.

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: bhullar@37.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
The Azlan Shah tournament proved yet another disaster for Indian hockey, and its fan following in the country. Since the exit of Rajinder Singh, the Indian team has been making the same mistakes, with the same sifarshi selection procedure and the same old excuses after the debacle.

Why does the IHF select players like Sandeep Michael, Harpal Singh, Arjun Hallapa, and the latest Muthuselvan (who scored a self goal against Pakistan). A Baljeet Singh Dhillon is still better than a Sandeep Michael any day - I have lost count of the number of goals he missed in the tournament.

The non-existent midfield still prefers to stick to the ball like a housefly to jaggery, why can't they release the ball quick enough? The midfield still doesn't believe in forward movement, even corner hits were sent back towards our own 25-yard line.

The forward line is the first line of defence, but in this tournament, whenever the opponents had the ball the entire Indian team would be standing and waiting in their own half instead of putting pressure on the opposing defence. On the other hand, whenever the Indians had the ball in their 25-yard line, opponent forwards rushed and put pressure, resulting in school-level silly mistakes by our players.

The lack of feeding of the forwards was visible in the lacklustre performance of the forward line - most of the time they had to receive the ball inside their half to launch some kind of attack. Why cant Indians let the ball do the running, they just love moving with the ball when a clear rasping hit would have done the needful.

Good job by ESPN-Star; one suggestion is for them to do something about the commentary of Mr. Tewari.

In the end, I pray to god to put some sense into IHF top brass and shake them out of their slumber.

Name: Rory Hendricks
Email: rory.h@bordo.com.au
Organization: Bordo Precision Cutting Tools - Area Sales Manager
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: -
May we contact you: -
Reference: -
Comments:
It�s sorry to see that there is still such corruption, ass licking and brown nosing in the IHF. It is no wonder that the Indian hockey team lacks success. Get rid of �it� and I am convinced that the Indians will field a better team and improve their success rate.

I am an Indian that immigrated to Australia and still enjoys playing hockey after being disheartened and dejected at the way hockey was managed in my time. I am disappointed to see that �goondas� (Gagan & co.) and bad attitude players are still in the team. What sort of message are we sending to the younger generation?

We need to clean up our backyard and hopefully success will come with it. Until such time, India's dream of becoming a world force in hockey, as in the past, will remain just a pipe dream.

Name: Nick Saini
Email: nicksaini@hotmail.com
Organization: Local hockey club in USA
How can you help: N/A
Willing to Support: Other: I'll explain below
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
India has very good hockey players, but the IHF has a problem choosing good players for international tournaments.

Name: Vikas
Email: vikasgreat336@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
Please update the site with the latest news.

Name: George
Email: kc8585gk@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: PlanetFieldHockey.com
Comments:

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: bhullar@37.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
Hi hockey lovers, if anyone has information regarding the telecast of the Junior World Cup matches, please post it on the guest book, or I will be grateful if anyone can email me regarding that. Best of luck to the defending champion India.

Name: Craig Ashton
Email: craiga@mosmobiles.com.au
Organization: -
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Other, I'll explain below
May we contact you: N/A
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
Hi, I am interested in hockey as my 3 children play the sport for the Brunswick Hockey Club in Melbourne, Australia. Which club would be the leading club for junior hockey in India? Do you have any special development programs for junior hockey in India?

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: bhullar@37.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
I cry for you, my hockey. India is the defending champion in Junior World Hockey, and not a single Indian news channel has any report regarding the tournament, forget about any live coverage or analysis.

I don't understand this step motherly treatment meted to hockey in India. Is it a deliberate attempt to push the sport of hockey under the carpet. Hoping and waiting for the live coverage or at least any news about the matches being played by India.

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: bhullar@37.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
Let me take up the issue of hockey vs. cricket. Twelve nations play test match cricket, and India's ranking is 7th (as per the last rankings). More than 100 nations play hockey and India has always been amongst the top 12 (playing in all the World Cups).

What I don't comprehend is the huge difference between international cricket and the domestic cricket scenario. The 2003 Ranji Trophy final had 200 spectators in the stands. In contrast, if you walk into Shivaji Stadium even for a sub-junior tournament, there will be at least 1000 spectators watching the match, and that too a knowledgeable crowd (not like the cricket enthusiasts, of whom, about 95% have not played any competitive cricket except galli cricket).

I will hold the IHF and also the FIH responsible for lack of press support (both print and media) for hockey. In contrast, pages and pages have been devoted to the yet to be implemented change in the TV umpire for cricket, while there has been nothing about the Junior World Cup Hockey except the column Reverse Flick by Mark Hoogstad.

For example, the Hindustan Times sports page for July 2, 2005, had a column about sports results and upcoming events. There was soccer (Confederation Cup), Golf (European Open), Tennis (Wimbeldon), Natwest Series (cricket), FIFA World Youth Championship (soccer), Formula One (racing), Tour de France (cycling).

I cry for my Hockey - there was just no mention of the Junior World Cup Hockey results, and India is the defending champion! India beat Holland 4-1. There was live commentary on the FIH site, but I am sorry to say that there was no mention on these so called news channels.

After the Hobart Junior World Cup triumph in 2001, Uma Bharati (the then Sports Minister) made a hue and cry about non-telecast of India's matches. I want to ask a question to the IHF regarding their media policy. Some time back they had put Anupam Gulati in the charge of media affairs for the IHF. What policy has been put in place??

Why is cricket popular? It is plain economics and the Indian attitude. What you need to play cricket is a ball, bat (even thapas will do), 2 bricks (forget about stumps), 5 yards of plain surface in front of the batsman and the local rules.

For hockey, one at least needs a stick and s flat piece of ground (which is difficult to find in today's scenario).

Hockey is a fast paced game, even if you dont have the ball you still have to remain active and attentive. In cricket, we have 10 players, leave the bowler, standing in an acre of green ground (if match is played in proper conditions) and each one hoping that the ball does not come his way. You might stand the whole day without even touching the ball.

It is not cricket that has killed other games, but the attitudes, administrators, press (print and now television media). These are some of the issues that have to be looked into for the future of sports in India.

Name: K. Mukund
Email: mukund_c@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:

Name: Rajesh Gohil
Email: sunny2hot4u@yahoo.co.uk
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
Hi, I used to play hockey till 2 years ago, when I had to quit due to workload. I was born in Kenya and I played most of my hockey in Mombasa. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you all for the work that you are doing. Thanks.

Name: Rakesh Dwivedi
Email: dwi_cmpdil@yahoo.com
Organization: Coal India Ltd. (A Government of India Undertaking)
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
I am a regular visitor of your site. I have been closely following the Junior World Cup being held at Rotterdam. At the moment that I am writing this, it is half-time and India is leading 2-0 against Australia. I'm watching the game live on fih.tv.org.

I'm somewhat concerned by the content/transcript of the live commentary provided by fihockey.org. It is somewhat biased against India. I would also draw your attention to some of the headlines in our newspapers. For example: 'India Steals Place in the Semifinals'. They can be a bit more positive.

Regards,

Rakesh Dwivedi
Vice President
Jharkhand State Women's Hockey Association

Name: Vineet Sharma
Email: fffc_04@yahoo.com
Organization: Fat to Fit Fitness Consultancy
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: -
Reference: Google
Comments:
I am a fitness consultant, and would like to train the Indian Hockey team at any level (senior or junior).

This is no mean achievement that India has reached the semifinals for 3 consecutive Junior World Cup tournaments - 1997 (Milton Keynes, 2nd), 2001 (Hobart, 1st), and 2005 (Rotterdam) - but thanks to our great IHF how many are aware of this achievement?

The less said about our media is better. The Senior Women's National Hockey Championship is going on in Delhi, and the coverage it is getting in the newspapers is less than that given to a school-level cricket tournament. And Hockey is our national game! Wake up IHF, before it is too late.

Name: V. Arunprakash
Email: aruntmr@gmail.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:

Name: Ajay
Email: aj_yan@rediffmail.com
Organization: TotalTV
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: NewsGroups
Comments:

Name: Ranjit Singh Sandhu
Email: ranjit.sandhu@tmd.co.uk
Organization: Slough Junior Hockey Club
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support:Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
I would like to contribute articles and observations that I made at the Junior World Cup in Rotterdam. Yours in sport, Ranjit Singh

Name: Ratikanta
Email: ratikanta@myway.com
Organization: A Government of India organisation
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
In my opinion, we should try to popularise the sport of hockey like how cricket has been popularised. First, create facilities for hockey at the school level to popularise the game among the younger ones. The government and hockey federation should come forward with good fields, coaches and frequent contacts with school children. Though this needs money and time, I somehow think we can do it. With best wishes to Indian hockey.

Name: scporto.com
Email: geral@scporto.com
Home Page: http://www.scporto.com
Organization: Sport Club do Porto, Portugal
How can you help: N/A
Willing to Support: No
May we contact you: No
Reference: Google
Comments:

Name: Naveen
Email: shivashankarindia@rediffmail.com
Organization: RND
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: bhullar@37.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
In Times of India, 26/07/05, there is a article titled "Coach Strikes Aggro Chord", written by Mr. Rakesh Jha. The first line of the article says "Make the defender come up before you release the ball to your partner."

I have some opinion about this statement of Indian coach Rajinder Singh Jr. Though I was not a great player myself, I have played, watched, and understood hockey enough to submit my opinion.

The coach is essentially stating that you don't release the ball quickly, but let the opponent come face to face to you and then push the ball, as the Indian midfield has been doing in the recent times.

If this is the strategy, then the player loses vital seconds by waiting for the opponent, instead of catching him on the wrong foot. Even the unmarked players of his team get marked in those vital seconds. This policy also reduces the options of the player having the ball to release the ball, as his line of hit, pass, or push will be covered to some extent by the opponent.

This policy was good when the hockey was played on the grass, as the ball moved slowly and the players had to draw the opponents close to reduce the chances of ball being trapped on the way. But on astro-turf, this policy has been the bane of Indian hockey. Instead of a quick release, the player tend to stick to the ball and in the process loses vital seconds.

Remember the game-winning goal of Gagan Ajeet Singh against Pakistan in the 2002 Asian Games semi-final, scored with only 3 minutes left in the game. There were exactly three touches from the centre line till the ball landed in the Pakistan goal. Daljeet Dhillon, from center line, gave the ball to Dhanraj Pillai in the midfield, and he without any delay pushed the ball to Gagan at top of the D, and Gagan scooped the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper.

If Dhanraj or Daljeet had waited for the Pak defenders to come up to them before releasing the ball, the scenario could have been different. Because of the very quick release of the ball, the whole Pakistan defence was caught off-balance, and this led to the non-marking of both Dhanraj and Gagan, eventually leading to the game-winning goal.

Name: Jessica Jones
Email: jedjessjones@hetnet.nl
Organization: HOD Hockey Club
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Undecided
May we contact you: -
Reference: Google
Comments:
The HOD Hockey Club is delighted to announce the 17th International Easter Hockey Tournament for top under-16 teams of the world. In April 2006, we will be organising the 17th edition of this tournament. The 2006 edition will be held on Saturday, 15th April and Sunday, 16th April. Up to 28 top teams from all over the world will be participating in the 2006 tournament. Don't miss this International Hockey Event!

In past years, top teams from the following countries have participated: Belgium, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Italy, Spain, USA, Canada, England, Scotland, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ireland, France and Netherlands. The matches are played in accordance with the International Hockey Federation (FIH) rules. Qualified referees of the Royal Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB) guarantee a professional competition. Please contact jedjessjones@hetnet.nl for more information.

Name: Claude de Silva
Email: csmkds@aol.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: -
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
I used to be the Sri Lankan hockey coach, and visited India several times with the Sri Lankan team as either coach or manager. Mr. Jyothi Kumaran is a personal friend of mine. He and the Indian Hockey Federation have helped a lot to improve the standard of hockey in our country. I will always support Indian hockey. Please convey my regards to Jyothi. Can you send me his email address. I am in USA at present.

Name: Prafulla
Email: prafullav@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
This is a laudable effort, from someone who has to be a true hockey lover. This is the sort of thing Indian hockey needs to be released from the stranglehold of the likes of Gill.

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: bhullar@37.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: -
Comments:
Hi hockey lovers, the Indian team for this month's mini World Cup has been selected. Best of luck to India in their upcoming battle. This is a balanced team with one or two exceptions.

But what has happened to Jugraj Singh? It is almost 2 years since his accident. There is no news in the media or from the IHF on Jugraj's health, the state of his injuries, and whether he has fully recovered. Jugraj did play in the PHL, and though he scored PC goals, he did not play to his earlier potential.

Name: Devinder Basra
Email: d.basra@nataschabv.com
Organization: Fit Hockey Club, Amsterdam
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
I am an ex-Indian Navy hockey player, now settled in Holland. I am a big fan of Indian hockey. We have a group of about 150 friends and have formed an Indian Hockey Fans Club.

I was in Rotterdam for Junior World Cup. In the semi-final match between India and Australia, the decision by umpire Amarjeet Singh to change a corner to a short corner was a harsh punishment meted out to India. Could not the umpire have given a warning or a Yellow Card to the concerned player, why should the whole team be made to suffer?

In the bronze medal match, it was a big blunder by the Dutch referee to disallow the Indian goal. The scoreboard had already been changed to indicate the goal by India, and we fans were dancing the bhangra on dhol beats. Till today, we do not understand what made Mr. Erik Klein instruct the other referee Mr. Stagno to change a goal awarded to India into a free hit for Spain.

I immediately rushed to the press box to see the replay of that goal, it was a sure goal. I even asked Mr. Ric Charlesworth, the famous hockey player and one of the best modern hockey coaches in the world. He said that this is the biggest blunder of the tournament. In his opinion it was a goal, and if not a goal, it should have been either a corner or a penalty corner to India, not a free hit to Spain.

After the match, I asked the umpire Erik Klein as to why he acted like that - he had no answer. Such a state of affairs will go on until the Asian Hockey Federation, or the concerned hockey federations of the affected countries do not take serious action against biased European umpires.

We wish Indian hockey every success in the forthcoming mini World Cup in Holland.

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: bhullar@37.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: -
Comments:
Best of luck to the Indian team for Mini World Cup (Rabobank Trophy). Hope they don't let the fans down this time. The team is as good as it can be. Best of luck again.

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: bhullar@37.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: -
Comments:
Where is the Indian midfield, did the team leave the midfield behind in India? My request for all the Indian hockey fans is to help locate the midfield.

Ignace Tirkey was at it again, caught sleeping with the ball. This resulted in a Spanish goal, the only goal of the match. Someone please convey to Ignace the need to quickly release the ball. There are 10 other players in the team.

In the first half, whenever Spain had the ball, their entire team fell back into their own half, and were hitting the ball amongst themselves at their own will as their was no Indian player to put pressure on them.

In the second half, the Indians applied the pressure tactic of rushing towards the player having the ball, and it did pay some dividends. It is another matter that we could not score. But why was this strategy not used in the first half, when the opposition was able to move till the half-line without any hindrance?

India, instead of learning from past mistakes, has even refined them even more. Our shortcomings are visible to the opposing coaches, and are being take advantage of cleverly by our opponents. May better sense prevails in our next match against the Netherlands.

Name: Nayana
Email: pnnp_like@yahoo.co.in
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Undecided
May we contact you: No
Reference: Google
Comments:

Name: Ramesh
Email: medaveda@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: N/A
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: -
Reference: -
Comments:
The Rabobank Mini World Cup is going on right now. I saw an article (a small one) on India's defeat at the hands of Spain on Rediff. That's it! I have been scouring the net to find other Indian news items related to this tournament and there are none. What is pathetic is that an Arsenal victory in an insignificant (to Indians) match in the English Premier League is covered by all and sundry. Appalling, to say the least!

Name: Rishabh Kaushal
Email: mail_2_rk@yahoo.com
Organization: IIIT, Hyderabad
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
It's great to see someone caring for Indian hockey. I am a diehard fan of Indian Hockey; to put it more correctly "I am addicted to Indian hockey and can do anything to see Indian hockey rise again".

I have started a Yahoo Group :- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/indianhockey

I request you to please join the group and publicise to increase its membership so that the Indian Hockey Fan Club increases. Being a student, I can't help monetarily much but I will try to do as much as I can in my individual capacity!

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: bhullar@37.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: -
Comments:
Pathetic, that sums up the Indian effort in match against Germany, which they lost 1-2 in the Rabobank Mini World Cup.

Instead of utilising the full width of the ground, the Indian players fit themselves into a 5 yard radius along with their markers. This resulted in a packed defence, instead of open spaces. The idea of stretching the defence to create open space is not in the pages of Indian coaching manual.

The less said about the Indian long hits the better. A long hit is useful only if it is taken as soon as the ball is received, so as to get the defence in wrong position. It is of no use if after receiving the ball, 10 seconds are wasted in tip-tapping the ball from right to left and left to right - by that time every Indian forward has been covered.

A new thing the Indian forwards have learnt is attempting a reverse hit every time they are in the semicircle. Even when they could have a clear right-handed shot, they try to do a spectacular shot and it leads them nowhere. In the 140 minutes (the first two games of the Mini World Cup) of hockey the Indians have played, a proper right handed crack on the goal was hard to find.

Every team playing in the tournament has something to show, but for the Indian team there is only one question - what is this Indian team doing here?

Even in the department of so-called stick work of the Indian players, they are lagging behind. Gagan Ajeet Singh needs to be told that his tap dodge has been studied by opponents and not even once has he been successful in that dodge. Each time he has tried it, he has been tackled.

It will be better if the management plays Prabhjyot on the right flank, because after he receives the ball, his initial movement is to go towards the left. Since he is already playing on the left flank, he is struck between the opponent and the sideline, with no place to move.

The midfield is still missing, a nationwide manhunt is required to locate the missing midfield.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for the Indo-Pak match. With their current level of play, I don't have any expectations from the Indian team. Even if they beat Pakistan, questions still remain about the Indian team's strategy and planning.

Ever since, the removal Rajinder Singh Sr., the team has continued in its downward journey. Why was Rajinder Singh Sr. removed in first place. A question needs to asked from Mr. Jyothikumaran. Or is it that the personal interests are more important than the national interests?

Name: Amitab Dev
Email: amitabdev@touchtelindia.net
Organization: Hero Management Services Limited
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
Our Indian players must realise that if they intend to enjoy all the privileges and the adulation of the fans, they have to perform! Make no mistake about it. Their body language, their aggression, their game...they definitely need to do a lot better.

It becomes imperative to call a spade a spade to improve the present state of the game. We can consider changing the Coach or the Administrative Officials. We could consider a younger brigade or even a foreign coach for that matter.

After all, hockey is India's National Game. I would like to see India as the world champions of the game.

Name: Patrick Rowley
Email: patrowley33@aol.com
Organization: Journalist
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: N/A
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Word of Mouth
Comments:

Name: Vishwa Jyoti
Email: vjb17@rediffmail.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: -
Reference: Google
Comments:
I would like to know India's overall records against hockey powerhouses like Australia, Holland, Germany and Spain.

Name: Sahiba Grewal
Email: sahibagrewal2004@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Yahoo
Comments:
Hi Gagan, I am your greatest fan. Please contact me at at my email address. bbie wid loads of love only ur's sahiba.

Name: Muskaan Saini
Email: muskaansaini2002@yahoo.co.in
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: -
Reference: -
Comments:
Hi Jugraj, how are you. I am Muskaan Saini, you know me. I just wanna say I love you, don't marry some one else. Please contact me.

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: bhullar@37.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: -
Comments:
Another nightmare for the Indian hockey has come to an end. Even before the last match of the Rabobank Mini World Cup, the usual blame games have started.

These things leave a very bad impression on the minds of fans of the game and Rach's comment that Indian hockey is a "mad house" seems to be true.

Congratulations to Pakistan for a splendid performance; they have shown that continuing with an indigenous style of play and putting our faith in indigenous resources will bear fruit.

During the Mini World Cup, on many instances the television camera showed various video crews recording matches even if it did not involve their own team. May be I missed the Indian representation there, or the Indian team management just doesn't bother about this issue.

I hope that finance is not the reason for our no-show; a good handycam costs just around $1000, add another $2000 for a high-end laptop. It certainly should not be the CD cost that prevents the Indian management from recording other teams' matches - an 80 minute CD costs as little as Rs. 7.

As a diehard Indian hockey fan, I will still watch matches even if they perform miserably, which has been a routine affair since the exit of Rajinder Singh Sr. in 2004. Maybe one day the IHF will give the victory-starved Indian hockey fans a moment which they have been waiting for a very long time.

Name: Rohit Raman
Email: ramanr@zeesports.com
Organization: Zee Sports
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:

Name: Milind Sohoni
Email: mgsohoni@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Monetarily
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Undecided
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
I found this website on Rediff.com. I am an ardent fan of the game, and sincerely wish that the national team's performance could significantly improve. I also hope that the sport could generate more money in India, attract wealthy and benevolent sponsors, and Indian hockey could become a family sport like cricket.

Name: Jammu Singh
Email: drjammu@gmail.com
Organization: San Jose Khalsa Hockey Club
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:

Name: Karishma
Email: hobgoblin_karish@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Monetarily
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Undecided
Reference: Google
Comments:
I am so glad that Deepak Thakur received the Arjuna award. I just wish him good luck. Though things in our team are not taking shape as people want, I know these guys will come up with flying colours if they stick together. And once more, Congratulations, Deepak!

Name: Rory Hendricks
Email: rory.h@bordo.com.au
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: -
Comments:
On browsing the comments in the guestbook, the message is loud and clear - Indian Hockey is at its lowest thanks to the inept administrators, who are not capable of even organising a booze party in a brewery. I am sure you understand this analogy, Mr. Gill et al.

What the fans are stating is that Gill and co. should leave the IHF to people who are dedicated to revive hockey in India. If you, Mr. Gill, were the CEO for an MNC, the shareholders/stakeholders will be screaming for your blood... get the message?

Name: Bhabani Shankar Hota
Email: smb_bhabani@sancharnet.in
Organization: Meher Association
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: N/A
Reference: Google
Comments:
I am involved in the development of sports and games in Sambalpur District of Orissa for about 37 years. I have also worked with Major Dhyan Chand in training boys of Sambalpur University for the Inter-University Hockey Tournament in 1971. In fact he was with us here at Sambalpur for about 50 days. I have contributed my time and money for development of hockey and football in the past. For the present, I would just like to be a supporter.

Name: Vaibhav Lonkar
Email: vaibs_lo@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: -
May we contact you: Undecided
Reference: Yahoo
Comments:

Name: M. Riaz
Email: topone@cyber.net.pk
Organization: Top One Sports Pvt Ltd.
How can you help: N/A
Willing to Support: No
May we contact you: Undecided
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
We, M/s Top One Sports Pvt Ltd., are manufacturers/exporters of all sorts of sports gloves, sportswear & sports goods. For more details about our products, please don't hesitate to contact us freely, you are most welcome.

With best regards,

M. Riaz
Top One Sports Pvt. Ltd.
P. O. Box #235
Sialkot, Pakistan
Tel: +92 52 3542217/8
Fax: +92 52 3542306
Email: topone@cyber.net.pk

Name: Jagdishkumar L. Patel
Email: ndn_superstar@hotmail.com
Organization: Hotel Taj Field Hockey Club
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: PlanetFieldHockey.com
Comments:
I would like to see India become one of the world's top hockey teams. If we want to improve Indian hockey, we should focus on junior level hockey. We should organise more u-13, u-15 and u-17 tournaments.

We should avoid politics - our players must remember that they are playing for the country. Coaches and officials can only guide, but ultimately it is for the players to deliver the goods. We need to play like in Busan 2002 and Champions Trophy 2003 (where we beat Pakistan 7-4) and 2004 Olympic Qualifiers where we beat Canada 6-4 and Malaysia 5-3, with brilliant goals from my favourite players Gagan Ajit Singh, Deepak Thakur and Baljit Singh Dhillon.

Now some strikers were guilty of missing balls in the Mini World Cup. What went wrong with our players? Sandeep Singh, Tushar Khandekar, Arjun Halappa, Nitin Kumar, S. Vinay, V. Raja and Hari Prasad played exceptionally well, and I hope they keep playing to their potential in the future.

I am living in Canada since 1976. After the 1976 Olympics, hockey has always been living in my heart. I love hockey, and I watched the last four Olympics. I pray for India always.

Name: Pradeep Kumar
Email: pradeep.kumar@timesgroup.com
Organization: The Times Of India
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
I am based in Chennai as a reporter. I can contribute on hockey-related issues.

Name: Ravish Malik
Email: ani_hoc_69@hotmail.com
Organization: Sai Computers
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
I am a hockey player. I love all things related to hockey. I would like to know the latest hockey news (updates, etc.). I am presently studying computer engineering.

Name: Alexander Rooks
Email: ryefhc@aol.com
Organization: Rye Field Hockey Club, New York, USA
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: -
Reference: Yahoo
Comments:
Play with a great New York club - Rye FHC. Open to players from all over the world, which of course includes representation from India and Pakistan.

Name: Brian Perreira
Email: redcherry_goa@yahoo.com
Organization: Goa Customs
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
This website is doing a good job by having this forum where hockey lovers can give their views and comments. I love the game of hockey ever since I first started playing hockey in our Air India colony in Mumbai. Now I am presently working in Customs in Goa.

I presently help a local school - St. Anthony High School, Majorda, Goa. Our school has nearly 70-80 boys and girls playing hockey. Our school represented Goa in the u-15 boys Jawaharlal Nehru tournament last year in Delhi, where our school student captained the Goa team.

I think crying and blaming IHF will lead us nowhere. Instead, we need to organise ourselves and create basic infrastructure like astro turf pitches in India. Presently, there are only 20 astro turf pitches in all of India. Ideally, we need to have at least 4 astro turfs pitches in each state of India! It is ironical that a country like USA which has no ranking in world hockey has 600 astro turfs pitches.

We in Goa do not have even have a single astro turf pitch, even though so many Goans and Mumbai-based Goans have played for the country. I would ask these Goans - where are you? Have you lost your love for the game? Would you like to do something for reviving the game of hockey in Goa?

For starters, why not have plan on having astro turf pitches in Peddem, Mapusa, Fatorda and one preferably in southern Goa, i.e, Assolna, Velim or Majorda. To build astro turf pitches we should ask our politicians to create more grounds so that our junior players can practise on this surface. I hope our ex-Olympians and internationals wake up and do something for the game. Or else the game will slowly disappear from Goa and no one would be interested in playing the national game.

Name: Alexander Rooks
Email: ryefhc@aol.com
Organization: Rye Field Hockey Club, New York, USA
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: -
May we contact you: Undecided
Reference: -
Comments:
I help run a New York City, USA based hockey club, which comprises players from India, Germany, Netherlands, Australia, etc. I am a lover of the game of hockey.

Name: Anurag Pandey
Email: pandey539@yahoo.com
Organization: Infosys Technologies Ltd.
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
I had a few comments about the recently concluded Premier Hockey League (PHL). The PHL was a great boost for hockey in India. For this initiative to continue, a long term strategy needs to be chalked out and implemented in order to make the game popular with the people, and for Indian hockey to regain its lost glory.

The website Bharatiyahockey.org suggests certain means to enhance the PHL for the coming season. It has proposed a tour format like the ATP or PGA tours, wherein 8 domestic institutional teams like Punjab Police, Indian Airlines etc. and 8 foreign clubs from various countries would take part in 9 tournaments across the country.

Bharatiyahockey.org believes that institutional teams have historically had hockey teams, and all past great Indian players were from these teams. This is certainly true but the plan suggested by the website won�t make fans come out and support the teams.

For any sports enthusiast, it does not matter whether Punjab Police wins or Air India, but it would certainly make a difference if the team were Sher-e-Jallandar and the people of Jallandar were watching the game. To craft support for hockey we must continue to use names of cities and ask people to come out and support their city. I thus feel that the tour system won�t augur well for the future, and the existing format is the best option looking at the long term future of hockey in mind.

I feel that India now has the required basic infrastructure to have a full- fledged hockey league. Professional sports has not taken off yet in India like it has in the US and Europe. Now is the time when we must invest in the game of hockey and try and achieve world-class standards. This venture would require the full cooperation of ESPN-Star Sports, IHF, Sports Ministry and all other stake holders in Indian hockey, including the players and fans.

Step 1: Technical changes for PHL II and beyond
Time Duration: To be finalized before start of PHL II

I believe that for the next season, all the ten teams which participated in the PHL I should take part. There should not be any classification and all ten teams should be included in the same division. Each team would be required to play against the other 9 teams once each at home and away. This would mean that each team will have to play 18 games in the season. The games will be played on the weekends.

This would mean that we need a minimum of 18 weeks to finish the season. Every weekend will have 5 games. This can be reduced to 2-3 games a week so that the season can span over 36 weeks which is a substantial part of the year. This would result in a home game being played at most once or twice a month.

PHL II should do away with the concept of Time-Outs and Quarter Breaks; instead, the games must be played according to the rules specified by FIH. There are two reasons for this:

The international game of the players may suffer if they get accustomed to so many breaks
A goal in hockey is scored due to constant pressure applied by a team. With the concept of a time-out, this pressure is let up on the defending team

Step 2: Popularise the game of hockey
Time Duration: 2-3 seasons

In the developed countries, the major forms of entertainment for people are movies, music, television and professional sport (NBA, NHL, NFL in the US and EPL, La Liga, Serie A etc. in Europe).

In India, we do not have the concept of professional sports. The only sport that is watched is international cricket, and the gap between two consecutive International games hosted by any Indian city is almost 2 to 3 years. Domestic cricket in India is watched by just a few people.

Hence we must promote hockey as the best form of professional sport entertainment in our country. For any game to survive, the most critical factor is that there should be people willing to watch the game. So logically the first step for PHL should be to get people to go to the games. I suggest that in all the cities which will host a PHL team, the marketing focus should be two-fold, one on schools and colleges, and the other on the adult fan base.

The NBA stars in the US visit schools and interact with children regularly. In contrast, the majority of the children in India are absolutely ignorant about the rules of hockey. Urban Indian children rarely ever take to the game of hockey because of this ignorance, and also due to the lack of hockey facilities.

Since a team will have only 2 to 3 games in a month, a lot of time must be spent by players interacting with school children. PHL road shows should be held in many city schools, and free tickets and other merchandise like team jerseys, hockey sticks, etc. must be given away at these road shows. The players must interact with the children and must teach them the game of hockey.

For college students also, similar road shows can be organised. The young generation must be made to feel that it is �trendy� to go watch a game. Good advertising in all the media outlets, including radio, newspapers and hoardings, can lead to the popularity of hockey.

The next step to popularise the game would be to start Sunday League for the major schools. Every city can have a separate league for its schools. I�ve read that Delhi, for instance, has 3 artificial turf grounds, of which only one is used. The other grounds can be made available for the proposed Sunday League.

Other side shows can be held along with the main hockey game for that weekend, and the event can be built up as a happy evening for the family. Celebrity appearances (e.g., Sehwag or Tendulkar) at such places will go a long way to enhance the popularity of the game. I�m sure film personalities will also draw a lot of public.

A different league needs to be set up for college and universities. This league should be organised in such a way that it will identify the best youth players from the respective cities and these players then should be given proper training and should be encouraged to continue playing hockey and make a living out of it.

Marketing the games for adults needs to have a different strategy. A nationwide campaign should be undertaken to help rebuild hockey in the country. Through this campaign, the general public must be made to understand that their presence at the games will go a long way in resurrecting hockey in India. Advertising which is emotionally appealing must be used in this context.

On PHL game days, side shows must be organised and free tickets and merchandise must be given away to the fans. For example, contests can be held on Hockey Trivia. Also, celebrities can be roped in to view the home matches of their home cities. This will lead to more crowd support. Only after the game gets popular can we get to the next phase of PHL expansion.

Step 3: Ownership of Teams
Time Duration: 2-4 seasons

Once considerable fan following has been achieved for every club, the next logical step would be to deal with all the financial aspects of the clubs. Due to the large fan following, a lot of companies will be interested in advertising during the PHL games. A few large advertisers can be approached to take ownership of the clubs. I feel this stage will be the hardest for PHL, and once it gets through this transition period, it will grow handsomely.

Investors should be convinced that supporting a hockey club will lead to good business, as they can then retain all the prize money won by the club, decide on the club sponsors, keep all the gate money received from the home games, and also all revenue raised from merchandising.

Clubs can also transfer players, and clubs which have more money will manage to get better players, resulting in better teams, which will lead to better results, increased fan following, increased merchandising and increased prize money. This growth in finances can then be used to better the existing infrastructure and setting up of youth academies to nurture young talent.

All football clubs in Europe are actually public limited companies which have share holders and a board of directors. It will be nice if Indian hockey clubs have the same structure. Clubs can then invest in getting world class infrastructure and training facilities for their players. At this time it should be made mandatory for every club to have a youth system, where children are recruited at a young age of around ten, and the club then looks after the education and the physical development of the children.

Club officials can be sent to Europe to study the youth setups there, and then we can suitably adopt those systems to the Indian context. A lot of study will need to be done to for this phase of the development of the game. This phase will need a lot of support from the government as a lot of people may be apprehensive about spending so much money on the game of hockey. Tax benefits can be given to owners who are willing to start a hockey club of their own.

During this phase, we should also encourage hockey clubs in other cities of India, as well as in Pakistan also. It would be great for the PHL to have representation from hockey clubs from large Pakistani cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Karachi and Peshawar.

Step 4: PHL goes International
Time Duration: After 7-10 seasons

At the time when clubs are beginning to acquire world class infrastructure, the IHF should put in a bid to host the hockey World Cup in India. Ideally, India should look to host the 2014 World Cup. During the World Cup, large crowds will support the subcontinental teams, in addition to following the foreign teams.

For example, the Cricket World Cup hosted by India in 1996 was a tremendous success, and worked wonders for the BCCI. The same can be expected for hockey, if we are able to make the game popular by then.

During the World Cup, professional scouts can find the best foreign players. These players must then be approached by the top Indian clubs with offers to stay in India and play hockey professionally. I feel that if we get the infrastructure up to international standards by 2014, we can attract the top hockey players to play in the subccontinent.

We must project the Indian subcontinent as the place to play professional hockey, just as Europe is the place to play professional football. All great footballers from around the world play in Europe, and all great hockey players from around the world must play in the PHL. If we achieve this, it will lead to the raising of the bar for the Indian players, and only the best will survive to play in the league and to form the core of the national side.

If we follow all the above steps, other Benefits which can be had will be:

Rise in coaching standards
Boost to Sports Medicine in India
More business for the hockey equipment and turf industry
The profile of the game will improve. Hockey will be a topic of conversation during the PHL
More talented young players will be unearthed as they try to play professional hockey
Each of the above will contribute to India eventually regaining the Olympic hockey gold

Name: Aman Singh
Email: supermansingh03@aol.com
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: No
Reference: Google
Comments:
Keep up the good work!!

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: bhullar@37.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: -
Comments:
Hi hockey fans, the IHF has done it again. The dropping of Deepak Thakur defies all logic. God help Indian hockey.

Name: Ranjit Singh
Email: ranjitsingh1231@hotmail.com
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: -
Reference: -
Comments:

Name: Christopher Hilton
Email: hil2ton@yahoo.com
Organization: Author
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Other, I'll explain below
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Someone Else's Page
Comments:
I am writing a book on the 1936 Berlin Olympics, to be published here in the UK by Sutton Publishing. It will be a comprehensive book covering all sports - including Indian hockey, of course.

One source mentions that the Indian hockey team left for Berlin on July 1, 1936 on the ship Aitheneavour, while another source states that they left on the S. S. Ranpura on June 27, 1936. Can you tell me which is correct, please? It is important to my book. Best regards and thanks in advance.

Name: Abhi
Email: future@nonexistent.com
Organization: -
How can you help: N/A
Willing to Support: No
May we contact you: No
Reference: Google
Comments:
How can you publish an article on the net criticising Sportstar's sports coverage? How can you beg fans and Sportstar to give your sport some recognition? People love that sport and that team which wins tournaments and gift its fans victories that they can cherish and desire. First of all, let the Indian hockey team win matches against Holland, Australia and Germany, and then we can talk about supporting the Indian hockey team.

Many people are aware of Michael Schumacher (F1 Racing) compared to Gagan Ajit Singh. The reason is that Michael has proved himself but Indian hockey team is still in its infancy. Therefore, earn your respect and place among us fans instead of pleading for attention. Respect needs to be earned, not snatched. Win against the strong countries and improve your ranking and only then will you have have a legitimate justification talking about the lack of attention to your sport.

Name: Ajay Virk
Email: virkajay15@hotmail.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
I appreciate your help and support to Indian hockey, at a time when nobody cares about hockey. I live in Canada but I love Indian hockey, and I hope it will shine again some day. Please do your best to help and support Indian hockey because the mass media is only way to highlight Indian hockey.

Name: Sunil Taneja
Email: sunil_taneja81@yahoo.com
Organization: ESPN Star Sports
How can you help: Monetarily
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
This website is a fantastic effort to let people about the past and present of Indian hockey. It really deserves a lot of appreciation.

Name: P. C. Thomas
Email: pcthomaspk@gmail.com
Organization: Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kanjirapally, Kottayam, Kerala
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: FieldHockey.com
Comments:
It will be nice to have a directory of all India players with full frontal photographs. Also, a list of local active clubs for varsity tournaments would be welcome.

Name: Dr. Mohammad Khalid Hussain
Email: khalid_hussain009@yahoo.com
Organization: Bengal Hockey Association
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: PlanetFieldHockey.com
Comments:
Schools should take more initiatives to promote hockey from the sub-junior level onwards. Schools should try to organise competitions once in six months. There should be more sub-junior and junior tournaments - like under-12 years, 13 years, 14 years upto 16 years.

That way, a good sub-junior hockey player can stay longer in touch with hockey due to regular competition at various age-group levels. Also, these sub-junior tournaments should strictly enforce the age bar - no overage players should be allowed to participate in under-age tournaments.

Name: Laxman
Email: laxsmartman@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Undecided
May we contact you: Undecided
Reference: Someone Else's Page
Comments:

Name: Anil Verma
Email: anil_verma1964@rediffmail.com
Organization: Madhya Pradesh Women's Hockey Association
How can you help: Other, I'll explain below
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
I am a judge by profession. I am also a sports writer and hockey and cricket statistician. Over the past 22 years, 2 books and 970 of my articles on various sports have been published. I am the Vice President of the Madhya Pradesh Women's Hockey Association, and was an Organising Commitee member for the Afro-Asian Games that were held in Hyderabad in 2003.

Name: Mohan N.
Email: mohann_set93@yahoo.co.in
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: Other, I'll explain below
May we contact you: -
Reference: Yahoo
Comments:
Only worthy players should be selected for the Indian team, without any partiality.

Name: Rita Allen
Email: rita.allen@verizon.net
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: No
May we contact you: -
Reference: Google
Comments:
My late husband's father, Richard James Allen, was the goalkeeper for the Indian Olympic hockey team for the three consecutive Olympics, from 1928 through 1936. He is mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records as the World's Best Hockey Goalkeeper. He died in Bangalore in 1969.

I do have some photographs of Richard Allen, taken (I think) in the Amsterdam Games of 1928. We also have one of his Olympic gold medals.

Richard James Allen married Phyllis Evelyn Belchambers, and they had three children. One of these children was my husband, Ronald Arthur Allen. If anyone is interested in further details, please feel free to contact me. Rita Allen.

Name: Badri
Email: badri456@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: -
Willing to Support: -
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: -
Comments:
Indian hockey will not survive and prosper until K. P. S. Gill and Jyothikumaran go away. Why do players get dropped as punishment for losses, while the upper management is not held accountable and remains the same for years?

The present Indian hockey management does not know what it is doing. It is amazing why nobody is putting pressure on the jokers Gill and Jyothikumaran to quit.

Name: S. Ashwin
Email: sashwin55@hotmail.com
Organization: Student
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
Australia's national sport is cricket, and they are the best in the world in that sport. New Zealand's national sport is rugby, and they are the best in the world at it.

India's national sport is hockey, and we are the ....?

Name: Naveed
Email: punkhint@hotmail.com
Organization: Punkh International
How can you help: N/A
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Undecided
Reference: Google
Comments:
I live in Sialkot, Pakistan. I love to play hockey, and love to watch hockey. Here in Asia, hockey is on the decline. The Premier Hockey League is a positive effort to keep alive hockey in Asia. I appreciate this effort. Wish you good luck.

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: avs_bhullar@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
PATHETIC! This one word sums up India's showing at the Champions Trophy. India continues to commit the same old mistakes, and in fact have refined those mistakes.

The main powerhouse of modern hockey, the MIDFIELD, is missing from the Indian team. Vikram Pillai continues to move towards his own goal after receiving the ball. Ignace Tirkey behaves as if the ball is his life support system - he never parts with the ball.

V. S. Vinaya was found wandering like a lost cow on the field. Viren Rasquinha was good but his injury limited his playing time on the field. The defence was good in patches, in spite of Dileep Tirkey's absence.

Due to the midfield's mistakes, the forward line failed to do much, and any rare chance they got, they failed to capitalize on it. Arjun Halappa, why does the team management continue to persist with him on the team? Gagan Ajeet hits the ball as if the stick will hurt the ball.

Prabhjyot never got the ball on the run; it was always with his face towards his own goal, with a marker close on his heels. He has to receive the ball and make the turn, in the process wasting precious time.

I am so frustrated and disheartened with the performance - there are other things I want to write, but they will be termed rude, so I am just keeping them to myself. Hoping and praying to God for Indian hockey.

Name: Mervyn Perry
Email: mervyn@southeasthospitality.net
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
I am trying to reach former coach Jaswant Singh Grewal of G. N. Khalsa College in Matunga , Mumbai. Can anyone please let me know how I could contact him? Thanks.

Name: Amarveer Singh Bhullar
Email: avs_bhullar@yahoo.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: I'll explain below...
Comments:
The way the Indian team played in the tournament, they finished where they should - in the dumps. India does not deserve to be in the next edition of the Champions Trophy. More comments and some suggestions in my next posting.

Name: Mani Sankar
Email: samhud21@yahoo.co.in
Organization: -
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
Though Indian hockey is not doing too well nowadays, the current team members are youngsters, and they have a good future ahead of them.

Name: Mukul Pandey
Email: mklpndy@yahoo.co.in
Organization: Bombay Customs
How can you help: Time and effort
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:

Name: Karan Sood
Email: karan.sood.79@gmail.com
Organization: -
How can you help: Both of above
Willing to Support: Yes
May we contact you: Yes
Reference: Google
Comments:
This is a great resource for Indian hockey history. It is a very comprehensive site, with a wealth of information.

LAST UPDATED: Tuesday, December 27, 2005