The Indian Hockey Federation could certainly learn a few things from its counterpart BCCI.

The past week has been a mixed bag for the Indian Sports fans. On one hand where we had the nilamis of world cricketers for the IPL, on the other we had Indian Hockey team denied a spot for the forthcoming Olympics.

These two sports have had their own unique journey over a period of time. IPL, Indian Premier League  (or Indian Puzzled League in my lingo..:P) the brain child of the world’s richest cricketing body, made a way into the cricketing foray with much fanfare. We had the Ambanis, Mallayas, Wadias etc. all competing for getting the best players for their respective franchises. The ambiance was truly hysterical, with huge amounts coming into the cricketing world (read cricketers), something never witnessed of this magnitude (on CNN-IBN..lol)

The aura of commercialization was truly visible throughout the event, though it didn’t really come as a surprise was millions like me who have witnessed the change in economics of the game over a period of last 6-7 years. The amount of money pumped into the sport has grown exponentially. From a time when cricketers were paid a modest amount of Rs. 5,000 per one ODI match played to today having players receive a fee of Rs. 1.6 lacs other then the yearly remuneration which a player gets based on the grade he is segregated upon.

This is in anti-thesis of the situation of Hockey. Hockey a one-time national game) of the country finds itself in a miserable position today after being ousted from even participating in Beijing 2008 Olympics. After a abysmal performance in Asia Cup, that lead to India being made to play the qualifiers and losing to Britain 2-0, was something the last Indian Hockey fan wanted.

A huge uproar was made in the media by the Hockey Federation when Indian Cricket Team was felicitated and awarded after their jubilant Twenty20 World Cup victory in South Africa as opposed to the brownies Indian Hockey Team got after winning the Nehru Cup. At that point of time, i did support the cause as the memories of watching Chak De were still fresh with me.

But then as it is said, “reel aur real life mein farak hota hai yaara”. No one would be there to give a salami to the setting sun. You certainly need to commercialise the sport over a period of time. In a nation where the publicity design decides IPO listing pricce (Reliance Power). You certainly need to commercialize the sport to make the sport and have sponsors lining for you.

 In cricket, you had constant changes from a weekend game, to 5-day test matches to the 60-50 over ODI to the recent Twenty20 format. The commercialization with cricket probably started with the Kerry Parker’s, and later evolved while hockey left behind.

It is for the Hockey Federation to take cue from Cricket and commercialise the sport in the country. Perhaps a way, Chak De movement paved way for the sport; however i did not see Hockey Federation progressing on the hype. With due respects to the players and their commitment, I surely feel though the will to do it and patriotic flavour though present, the economic support lacks and thus making them win silver as opposed to going for the gold (though not even rubber this time...lol). I last heard of Mumbai Hockey starting the league, however is no where in the print/air media.

The ICL and IPL have opened huge doors for aspiring cricketers, and where cricket can be seen as a career option. I very much liked when the BCCI and ICL fought it off, whose beneficiaries where modest young cricketers many of whom come from humble backgrounds yet are champions at heart. (While hockey fails to provide even a modest livelihood for players of international stature.

Thus of the two sons, one has taken the sport to new heights while the other has failed to perform. One is growing steadily and proving more seductive career option for the youth, the other is fighting a lost battle with economics. I see the Ishant Sharmas and the Piyush Chawlas and the Virat Kohlis on my television everyday yet, do not know any hockey players other then Dilip Tirkeys and Mamta Kharab :P. So until i know them, you can’t have Vijay Mallaya’s into the sport and not even...........(hmm...how much do we need to fall for little humor..:)