In the era in which we have been brought up we have heard very less of hockey. On weekend our channels used to rotate between cartoons and cricket. I remember once my ma’am asked me what is our national sport and very confidently I replied Cricket. Because that was what I used to see my dear ones always watching and be very excited about So, I genuinely started to think that cricket it is.
I think the limelight that ought to be for hockey gradually got replaced by other sports that paid more. No single person or authority can be held accountable for that. There were a variety of factors that contributed towards it. After 1980’s our hockey went into wrong hands and corruption/nepotism/favoritism/regionalism was prevalent which ruined hockey. It remained confined to only govt schools and villages. Other sports that provided more name and fame were supported so much that they got all academies opened up, were often appreciated through Padma Bhushan and Khel Ratna that hockey always remained on the back foot. But this time when after so many years India has recreated history. The moment was so overwhelming when whole of the country was so engaged and excited about hockey match that they almost forgot about Ind vs. England cricket test series. There were cheers for our warriors everywhere.
Not only this today our hon. PM Mr. Narendra Modi also stated that upon receiving so many requests Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna has now been renamed after the “Magician of Hockey” and will be called Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award. This certainly tells us the big push Hockey got after making it to the semis and winning bronze in Tokyo 2020.
The era of change has begun once again but the authorities need to make sure that this should not be cramped till Olympics only. There should be encouragement in schools and in national clubs, should conduct leagues, should be paid well and appreciated equally.
And if this will be successful the day is not so far when Hockey stadiums will be echoed with cheers for India than cricket stadiums.