Ashok Kumar
– Photo: ANI
Expansion
Hockey infrastructure in Delhi and across the country has improved compared to earlier, yet its sheen has faded. Today the situation of hockey is such that hardly anyone knows the names of the domestic teams and their players. Ashok Kumar, son of Major Dhyan Chand, who is known as the magician of hockey and represented India in two Olympics and three World Cups, said these things while sharing his experiences about Indian hockey.
He said that the game of hockey has declined. Hockey matches are limited to only wins and losses. Now hockey matches neither get spectators nor press coverage. Recalling the glory of hockey in his youth, Arjun Awardee Ashok Kumar says that at that time people used to go to watch every hockey match. By 1956, the country won seven gold medals. The eighth medal was won in 1980. In Delhi’s Major Dhyanchand Stadium, there used to be a huge crowd of spectators to watch the matches of teams like Indian Airlines and Punjab Police, but now that craze is over.
Astro turf from the 1976 Montreal Olympics brought a change
In 1976, hockey matches started on astro turf grounds instead of grass fields from the Montreal Olympics. European teams were not able to catch up with Indian and Pakistani players on grass fields, but after the rules were changed, there were only 1-2 astro turf grounds in India for about 10 years. Even today we have limited astro turf hockey grounds. Hockey continued to lag behind and no one cooperated. In Delhi, only Major Dhyanchand Stadium has an astro turf hockey ground, and players play matches here.