Lest we forget...
As I write this blog, all the news channels are reporting the commencement of a hunger strike by a few of India's hockey players in front of the Karnataka CM's house. Their reason for protest - the cash prizes awarded to cricketer's of the state after their T20 World Cup win in South Africa.
In a country of a billion people the victory of a team of 11 players in a sport that is played professionally in not more than 15 odd countries evokes an outpouring of emotions. When the men's hockey team won the Asia Cup I doubt if even 10 heads turned. ( And hockey is the national sport of India ). I often wonder what is the cause of this phenomenon and I am yet to find any substantial answers.
One point of view is that cricket is the only game where India produces great performances. The reasons for great performances in competitive sport could be the following:
1. Talent/Skill/Hard Word - The amalgamation these attributes can produce winners in any sport irrespective of how good your competition is.
2. Global Participation in the sport - I need to elucidate this viewpoint. Take the following case. If a world cup is played by 10 team then each team has to effectively compete against only 9 others. If it is played by 50 teams then the competition can only get tougher. More the number of teams the chances of winning a world cup or complete domination in that sport also decrease. It must be remembered that spectator interest is only generated and sustained not by how artful a sport is but by how frequently the spectator's favorite team wins consistently. A sport generates money only if it is viewed by a large mass of people which is possible only if the team that this mass supports wins consistently.
My grandfather used to tell me that India and Pakistan ceased to forces to be reckoned with in hockey once Astro Turf was legalized as the playing surface. The change of surface helped in the rapid globalization of the sport that consequently increased participation and raised the bar of the game. The mandarins who ran the game in India did not anticipate that the globalization of the game would also require a significant investment back home. Their complacence was fueled by the fact that they thought that the arty wristwork of the Indians would overcome the power game that the Europeans would unleash ...
And the sub continent withered away ..
What does it require to make a sport successful ?
1. A good management committee that is comprised of experienced sportsmen and efficient administrators. ( People who can network and get sponsors )
2. An initial grant that will ensure the selection and training of talented players in that sport.
3. A long term plan for 5 years.
4. A string of successful victories.
Once consistency in results is achieved people are bound to sit up and take notice. And then the sport becomes a national passion.
A passing thought -- The title song of Chak De India - a film that reviles cricket - has become the theme song for all the cricket matches that India is playing ... that's cricket for you.
In a country of a billion people the victory of a team of 11 players in a sport that is played professionally in not more than 15 odd countries evokes an outpouring of emotions. When the men's hockey team won the Asia Cup I doubt if even 10 heads turned. ( And hockey is the national sport of India ). I often wonder what is the cause of this phenomenon and I am yet to find any substantial answers.
One point of view is that cricket is the only game where India produces great performances. The reasons for great performances in competitive sport could be the following:
1. Talent/Skill/Hard Word - The amalgamation these attributes can produce winners in any sport irrespective of how good your competition is.
2. Global Participation in the sport - I need to elucidate this viewpoint. Take the following case. If a world cup is played by 10 team then each team has to effectively compete against only 9 others. If it is played by 50 teams then the competition can only get tougher. More the number of teams the chances of winning a world cup or complete domination in that sport also decrease. It must be remembered that spectator interest is only generated and sustained not by how artful a sport is but by how frequently the spectator's favorite team wins consistently. A sport generates money only if it is viewed by a large mass of people which is possible only if the team that this mass supports wins consistently.
My grandfather used to tell me that India and Pakistan ceased to forces to be reckoned with in hockey once Astro Turf was legalized as the playing surface. The change of surface helped in the rapid globalization of the sport that consequently increased participation and raised the bar of the game. The mandarins who ran the game in India did not anticipate that the globalization of the game would also require a significant investment back home. Their complacence was fueled by the fact that they thought that the arty wristwork of the Indians would overcome the power game that the Europeans would unleash ...
And the sub continent withered away ..
What does it require to make a sport successful ?
1. A good management committee that is comprised of experienced sportsmen and efficient administrators. ( People who can network and get sponsors )
2. An initial grant that will ensure the selection and training of talented players in that sport.
3. A long term plan for 5 years.
4. A string of successful victories.
Once consistency in results is achieved people are bound to sit up and take notice. And then the sport becomes a national passion.
A passing thought -- The title song of Chak De India - a film that reviles cricket - has become the theme song for all the cricket matches that India is playing ... that's cricket for you.
posted by Shreerang at 10:59 PM
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