Currently, Hero Hockey India league’s third edition is taking place and with my over 18-year career in Sports Management and around 13 years of association with Indian hockey, I can say with absolute conviction that nothing could be better for Indian hockey.
I still remember the day when we for the cause of supporting and developing the national game decided to get associated with Indian hockey, which otherwise was in abysmal state of neglect. We, with joint efforts of the Federation, have come a long way, but the league certainly is a shot in the arm. For hockey, it was a big leap forward. It is an absolute delight to see Ranchi Rays’ Ashley Jackson getting a pass from Manpreet Singh of his team, in its match against Punjab Warriors, and converting the three consecutive penalty corners into a hat-trick.
This league is reckoned as the biggest hockey league in the world and the good thing about it is that most players are still playing international hockey and representing their countries in big-ticket tournaments.
Players from world’s thirteen top hockey-playing nations are participating in this league. It is obvious that Indian youngsters are getting a lot to learn by playing under coaches and with renowned players having different styles. Nothing could be a better for hockey than this. It is a precedent for the entire world. Earlier Indian youngsters used to play among themselves and only a few selected players had international exposure.
Even though different countries are not participating individually in this league, the opportunity to play with players of these countries and under the guidance of the coaches, this experience that has been garnered by the upcoming Indian players can never be had in any other way.
For example, aspiring players like the 16-year old Dipsan Tirkey of Kalinga lancers or other promising youngsters such as Harjeet Singh of Uttar Pradesh Wizards and Harmanpreet Singh of Dabang Mumbai got an opportunity to transform their dream of playing with the likes of Jamie Dwyer, Tom Boon, Floris Evers and Ashley Jackson and other top players as well as learning from them, into reality. For these players it is indeed a dream come true and a golden opportunity to learn and play with the world’s best hockey player in an international level playing environment.
We have been associated with Indian sports, players and sports management for a long time — we’ve had an association with cricket, Formula1, football and badminton. We have had a very fond association with hockey a game which we have been involved with for 13-14 years and is a game that is close to our hearts.
I think that the doors of innumerable possibilities for hockey are opening up. For a country with eight Olympic gold medals not qualifying for big-ticket tournaments is a drawback, no doubt, but for this the players cannot be blamed — we ourselves are to be blamed.
For this sport, which is close to every Indian’s heart, I can say without hesitation that when this league started, not many could conjecture that it would become so successful within a short span of time. People would eagerly wait for the contests every evening.
The credit goes to Hockey India who organised this league so beautifully and also to Star Sports whose live telecast took this league to the summit of popularity — especially Hindi commentary which has successfully penetrated Hindi speaking states. Besides this, the credit also goes to the franchises, who have once again restored to life our country’s pride and took the initiative in this direction. It is needless to say that investing in a game like hockey cannot be motivated by commercial gain only.
After a long duration, the year 2014 witnessed the elevation of Indian hockey. I cannot claim that this has happened because of Hero Hockey India league yet I cannot negate the fact that in 2014, India won gold in Asian Games and qualified first for Rio Olympics. We won silver in Commonwealth Games and after two decades finished fourth in the Champions Trophy.
We defeated World Champions Australia and other big teams and this could not be called a coincidence. The league started in 2013 and in only two years, its effect can be seen. This league is a blessing for Indian hockey. Not only has it given birth to young players like Mandeep but also help Gurbaj stage a grand comeback with his brilliant performance and is getting better with every game.
This league has a vast potential but I feel that only one-fourth of it has been utilised. If its possibilities are discovered with prudence then that day is not far away when Indian hockey will once again acquire its golden past. It will be the day of ultimate happiness for all of us.
Abhijit Sarkar is Director at Sahara Adventure Sports ltd. and Head of Corporate Communications, Sahara India Pariwar