Listen guys nobody plays for their country anymore. Most definitely not our pampered cricketers. Take away their money and see how they perform. Hockey is n Olympic international sport unlike cricket and requires both mental and physical fitness. If one cannot earn a living even after playing hockey for 5 years how can anyone take up that sport or any other sport for that matter? We need to assure all Olympians that there is financla security in sports or otherwise everyone will only take up cricket and India will languish in International events forever.
RE:Indian Hockey
by Prabhakar KRISHNA on Mar 09, 2008 12:22 PM Permalink
Cricketers earn because they win. Hockey players will also earn if they win. From an assured place in S Final we have come to stage where we have to qualify( Like Holland, Ireland, singapore in Cricket), what the Hockey players are complaining about??? First show results and then complain. Cricketers got money after only they won W Cup(1983)!!!
RE:Indian Hockey
by beegeek on Mar 09, 2008 01:21 PM Permalink
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!
RE:Indian Hockey
by Kailash upadhyay on Mar 09, 2008 12:37 PM Permalink
My dear see the recorsd how many gold medal wons and world cup well before 1983 ( for cricket) ..pls see hockey recods for win - cons 13 goldmadl in olmpic
RE:RE:Indian Hockey
by Kailash upadhyay on Mar 09, 2008 12:39 PM Permalink
would like to add - hockey's records is much better then cricket won in international matches and tournaments
RE:RE:Indian Hockey
by sunil chelani on Mar 09, 2008 01:23 PM Permalink
when India was playing good hockey, everyone used to watch Hockey....unfortunately money on advertisement was not much. economy was not so good...but when money is there only cricket is performing...one day again when India win world cup or Olympic definitely Hockey will again come into limelight
