India won the Hockey World Cup in 1975! Long before the Cricket World cup. As usual, individuals assume greater images than the game in Indian sport...whether it's Gill, Dalmia, Kalmadi, Bindra or Pawar. The Premier Hockey League (PHL) in association with Star Sports has definitely lifted the game a bit. It's not the same with Cricket. ICL and IPL will burn out cricketers and the first nails on the coffin of test match cricket have been hammered! The lazy elegance of an Azhar, Laxman, Lara, Tendulakar, Vishwanath or the wily bowling of a Bedi, Doshi, Prasanna, Kumble, Warne, Murali, etc., are dead. Astro-turf killed the dribble and subtle skills of hockey. It's only speed, smash, trap and scoop now. Any team that is slow and poor in trapping is doomed. And where is Indian Football? :-) Paes & Bhupathi could have won more grand-slams and olympic medals, but can't play together! Only, Anand doesn't seem to have any problem yet. Somehow, Prakash Padukone and P.Gopichand shone like lone stars... Yes, infrastructure and financial security would help sportspersons to improve their performance thro' better training. Let's hope we'll get few medals in Beijing! Jai Hind!
