) Though the Indian national hockey teams failure to qualify for Olympics for the first time in 80 years has shocked people in India, it has helped those who have been suggesting that the game is due for a thorough overhaul.
Amritsar, March 16 Though the Indian national hockey team's failure to qualify for Olympics for the first time in 80 years has shocked people in India, it has helped those who have been suggesting that the game is due for a thorough overhaul.
"What has happened to Indian Hockey today at the international level hasn't surprised us. It was due to happen some day because we have not taken steps to implelent the required improvements in this game", said former Olympian Harmeek Singh , who is an Arjuna awardee given for excellence in sports.
Harmeek conveyed this to sports lovers while presiding over the valedictory function of the First South Asia Universities Hockey Championship that concluded here at the Guru Nanak Dev University Sports Complex on Sunday.
Harmeek Singh said that today Hockey had become the game of the rich."Today there is Hockey Astroturf instead of Grassy Grounds, new type of equipments have come and the entire rules of the game have been changed. But, unfortunately, we have not made the requisite changes in the game so far", the former Olympian regretted.
Like Cricket, we have not taken solid and bold steps to promote the game as per international requirements. There is still shortage of best coaches, scientific coaching and required infrastructure. We need to pay attention at the grass-root level, Harmeek advised.
Guru Nanak Dev University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Jai Rup Singh, while speaking on the same function, said that his university would do its best for the development and promotion of sports.
Dr.Singh said that the University had already taken a number of steps for this purpose and also provided the necessary facilities to its players.
Dr. R.S. Bawa, the University Registrar, College Principal Jaspal Singh Randhawa, President of GNDU Sports Committee and Dr. Kanwaljit Singh, Director of Sports were among other prominent personalities present on the occasion. By Ravinder Singh Robin
ANI