third eye
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Before cricket burst into the forefront in South Asia, India & Pak were known for Hockey.
A low cost game that had mass following it had all what it took - two halves, a decision at the end , simple easy to understand & play rules with emphasis on stick work played on a grass top.
All this has changed. This time , Pak will not take part in the world cup, India too has been more than lack luster.
Its easy to blame every thing on lack of sponsors, the craze for cricket , less money . The question is where have our skills gone ?
The astro turf has taken away the ground factor - the roll & bounce of the ball is predictable making it easy to send long passes. Speed has replaced stick work.
The size of the stick has changed and so have the rules.
People like me who played hockey by the old rules find it difficult to see ' wrong side' tackling , cutting the ball , lifting the stick over the shoulder .. and so much more.
Where we lack is endurance coupled with the urge to keep possession of the ball. The speed of the game is such that players have to be in top form - ours arent .
The Europeans have changed to rules in a manner that our S Asian style of ' bare foot' hockey is as recent as the dinosaurs.
I wonder if there are any hockey enthusiasts here who would like to join in with their views.
Are we not good enough anymore ?
A low cost game that had mass following it had all what it took - two halves, a decision at the end , simple easy to understand & play rules with emphasis on stick work played on a grass top.
All this has changed. This time , Pak will not take part in the world cup, India too has been more than lack luster.
Its easy to blame every thing on lack of sponsors, the craze for cricket , less money . The question is where have our skills gone ?
The astro turf has taken away the ground factor - the roll & bounce of the ball is predictable making it easy to send long passes. Speed has replaced stick work.
The size of the stick has changed and so have the rules.
People like me who played hockey by the old rules find it difficult to see ' wrong side' tackling , cutting the ball , lifting the stick over the shoulder .. and so much more.
Where we lack is endurance coupled with the urge to keep possession of the ball. The speed of the game is such that players have to be in top form - ours arent .
The Europeans have changed to rules in a manner that our S Asian style of ' bare foot' hockey is as recent as the dinosaurs.
I wonder if there are any hockey enthusiasts here who would like to join in with their views.
Are we not good enough anymore ?
