I sat and watched absolutely mystified as India and Pakistan played out a crucial Men's Hockey match in the Asian Games today. Whenever these two Nations take to the ground for any sporting encounter, that game guarantees a match filled with passion, drive, determination and the fire to WIN. This tie was crucial for India as a win would have them top the Pool Table they are in and also guarantee a Semi-Final place in the Asian Games 2010.
It is interesting how we as a Country have still not yet truly embraced our pride in ‘all’ the sports we truly excel at and games like Cricket continue to shadow our pride and glory that some of the other sports too bring to us but go unnoticed. It was providence that I happened to have the television on today and was watching the Asian Games, which allowed me to catch this classic Hockey encounter, as it was played out live. There was no advertising of any kind in the run up to this match talking about this wonderful tie that was going to be played out today…why I wonder since this tie is what dreams are made of for any sportsman and any India-Pakistan match. Such a game is always watched with a lot of enthusiasm especially if it is a sport like Hockey…
I do believe it is high time that India recognizes and accepts that we are great at sports other than Cricket too-hockey with the wonderful Indian Team, Boxing, Tennis, Chess, Rowing (as showcased in this Asian Games), Shooting, Weightlifting etc. We are slowly but surely becoming a Nation that is churning out great sporting glory and this can only take full shape when our Government is recognizing of the talent that flourishes in our own backyards and is able to shed the political bureaucracy and money swindling ways we seem to be making more of a name for be it the IPL or the Commonwealth Games.
Isn’t it surprising that in a nation of billions we are not able to have 11 Football players who can represent us in the FIFA World Cup? I believe it is possible…..the question however is-Do we want this to happen and become a reality? Do we only want to be recognized for our political power games we play out or do we want to also be remembered for the pride we brought our nation in the sports we played and the friendships we forged on the field? Shouldn't we be taking from the wonderful Indo-Pak 'peace pair' of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-haq-Qureshi friendship in Tennis formed that has made both India and Pakistan very proud.
India won their Hockey match today against Pakistan 3-2 and are through to the Semi Finals of the 2010 Asian Games. The Indian Hockey Team once again showcased their serious intent to us as a Country that they play to win, they play for the pride of our Nation….are we nurturing them in the support we show???
