Indian hockey needs clarity of vision and clear agenda

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The deadline expires today for rival factions in Indian hockey — Hockey India and the Indian Hockey Federation — to signal a merger or face action from the government. Sports minister Ajay Maken, who met members from both camps last week, obviously means well — for the sport. But to twist an old saying somewhat, mere good intentions may only pave the way to hell.

What Indian hockey needs today is not just endless meetings and fire-fighting, but clarity of vision and a clear short-term agenda that can be put into action rapidly. It is unlikely that a major upswing is possible before the 2012 London Olympics, but if a start is made now, 2016 could be far more rewarding: who knows, there might even be gold in 2020.
The following, I would venure, could be the focus areas:
Structuring the federation: Obviously two bodies can’t exist. Only one must, but with officials not so completely ranged against each other that the future of the sport itself is under threat. The 17-16 formula mooted by Maken seems simplistic but may have some immediate value.
Going ahead, the federation needs to be structured without compromise and through elections that are transparent and completed in time. In the past two decades the establishment has been hamstrung by internecine battles.
It’s been an unholy rigmarole of ego-tussles between officials and players, officials and officials and players and players leading to the current rotten state.
The proposal to make K.P.S. Gill as a patron must be clearly defined. While it is seemingly a masterstroke to keep Gill happy and yet not in the thick of decision-making, this could boomerang if the sports ministry sees it differently from the former IHF President.
Allay insecurity amongst players/coaches: This seems like a no-brainer but fact is there are very few players/coaches — former or current — in the Indian system who have a good word about officials or federation.
From reviewing pay scales, setting up sub-committees to look into player welfare/health etc, the establishment needs to shed its feudalism and adopt a more New Age approach. Unless it treats its own players/coaches as heroes — even in adversity — nobody will.
Raise finance: This might seem an onerous task given past experience. But surely commerce — not just hyperbolic rhetoric, nostalgic lament and emotional blackmail — drives every sport in the modern era, and hockey can’t be any different. The national federation will have to squeeze every buck out of the sports eco-system to make the sport viable.
This is not as hopeless or unrewarding as might seem. With the Indian economy expected to grow at 8-9 per cent every year for the next decade at least, money should be available. The volumes may not be as large as for cricket or football, but that yardstick of comparison itself is now foolish.
In a competitive environment, hockey has to eke out every penny in the market, offer sponsors and spectators bang for their buck, and aim to gradually grow into a mega-industry in itself.
Do heavy-duty marketing: However, the above mentioned is impossible if the establishment is moribund or coy. Indeed, Indian hockey has been guilty of short-selling itself. Clearly it cannot be bought any longer for the `glory’ that the country once enjoyed.
While the legacy value is undoubted, but more importantly it needs to be hard-sold as an exciting sport which affords a thrilling experience whether in the stadium or on TV.
Simultaneously, Indian playing standards will have to improve dramatically to enhance the gratification of this spectatorship/viewership. If both things happen, pride in the players and team will be revived in double quick time and hockey could become the national game once again in the real sense of the term.
Tournaments and development: To fast-track a revival, an agenda needs to be drawn up which looks aggressively at grassroots development and international exposure concurrently. A large number of astro-turfs need to be laid across the country, hockey academies which offer scholarships need to be founded perhaps with private partnership.
Also, the domestic circuit needs to incorporate best practices. Fifteen or more players holed up in one room during the recent nationals is terrible disincentive for youngsters to take up the sport. If pride and self-esteem is killed so early, what hope at the higher level of competition?