WOMEN’S HOCKEY- HOPE OF DELIVERENCE
The Bronze medal of Junior Women’s Hockey team in just concluded Hockey World Cup at Monchengladbach, Germany has come as a fresh breeze of air in otherwise sad Hockey scenario of the country. This is the first title for women’s Hockey team at any International tournament at any level. All the girls lived up to the task and scripted the medal for another ‘Chak de India.’ They have always been ranked outside top ten and been considered a pushover in group stages up to now. The victory will give much desired catalyst to the team and a confidence to play among the best.
The route was not easy. They were badly bruised in the opening encounter against Australia, conceded half a dozen goals and scored just 1. Up to that mark, it looked as yet another familiar World cup. But picture changed then. They qualified by much improved performance in subsequent matches, surprising many. They beat Russia10-1 and New zealand 2-0 for the booking in QF. Things got better when they shocked Spanish team 4-2 to move into SF for the first time. They lost to eventual champion Holland in the semis though, but set foot on the podium for the first time by defeating much stronger English side in the tie break of Bronze medal playoff.
The victory is not a flash in the pan. The team, no doubt has passed through some very rough patches in the past. They faced problems which were not their own. Sexual allegation on M K Kaushik has tarnished the image of stick game. The Dronacharya Award winning coach was removed from the position. He had laboured hard with the girls and groomed them for Commonwealth games of Delhi. Sponsors went away. The team players were not paid, or shortly paid, protested against the situations. Scene became so ugly that for an extended period of time, they played with out any sort of financial backing, wearing black arm bands at every game. Facing such hardship and obtaining this result is a matter of pride and eye opener for the administration.
The success mantra is to be discussed. Previously, the team had been dominated by Shahbad Hocky Academy of Haryana and Jharkhand. Now, the talent pool is widely spread as girls are coming from all corners of India, north-south-center-west and as a happy surprise from east! Madhya Pradesh Hockey Academy at Bhopal is working as a new launch pad for girls not only from MP, but also from other parts of the country. The academy has all the state of the art facilities like Astroturf, gymnasium, physical trainers, dieticians and even floodlights. The team is not depending on a few stars like Rani Rampal, but working as a cohesive unit. The risk of giving exposure to junior girls at the senior level has paid rich dividends now. The talent pool has never been bigger than this.
How good is a foreign coach for Indian team, has always been a debate with no concrete end. This medal winning squad has been coached by Australian Neil Hawgood, though his fellow countryman Michael Nobbs faced a different fate. It has worked for good here.
The things might change now and victory at junior level may affect the senior level. It might bring-‘Hope of deliverance.’