Yesterday as I sat watching India playing their third match - India vs Spain - there was nothing to be happy about. What has happened to the Indian team that played against Pakistan, a win over them and hopes of every Indian rising to see his/her country’s hockey making a place in this Hockey World Cup? Indian hopes have been shattered, Indian team losing to Spain playing before the home crowd in their home ground.
This brings to mind many diverse thoughts:
Why this sudden change in the attitude of the players.
The defence was weak and there was enough gaps for the opponents to give the finish.
Did the Indian players not do their home work before coming out to play?
Sad affair they couldn't convert the penalty corners.
To say without Shivendra Indian team has lost their moral boost. Just a plea.
Is the past rift between the Indian Hockey Federation and the players still going on which has demoralised the morals of the players?
So many questions have come up in the minds of the people but the end answer is - the mood of Indian Hockey lovers has dampened.
Media has written so much about the match that every hockey game lover has got the details even if they could not go to the stadium to watch the match or could not get time to watch it live on their television sets.
Still the remaining hockey matches will be watched with interest and enthusiasm even if India is not playing. After all the best team deserves to win and be cheered.
At least being the host country Indian Hockey could get a place in this tournament. But they have lost their chance.
Time for Indian Hockey to rise above the level they are in and stop being called “Under Dogs”.
Isn’t it?
India played the second match of the tournament against Australia. I waited for the match to start. Watching the match was not the same as the first one. Where do I begin...?
First the Indian striker Shivendra Singh was suspended for 2 matches, suspension reduced from 3 to 2 matches. So we lose the services of our main striker. It is really strange how the suspension came into force when the Pakistan team had not lodged a complaint against the player. What message does it leave? Is it biased towards the Asian players? If we had look at the England and Australia match earlier it is clearly visible how there had been rough tackles but no one was pulled up.
The commentators spoke out about the Indian players with a mean note from their Commentators box throughout.
The Indians were over powered by the Aussies from the very beginning.
Indians were at a disadvantageous stage when their ignorance of putting the ball out of the touch line was paid off with a penalty corner in favour of the Aussies who converted it into another goal. The team needs to do a lot of homework with the prevailing rules.
The Indians did lose the match 5-2 but still has chance to get a birth to the semi-finals with a win over Spain in their next match. But they have to careful with the goal margin.
Wish the Indian team all the best for the next match.
After all Indian Hockey is not losing its sheen with so many following the game whole-heartedly.
