Need to tap talent at grassroot level: Ashok Kumar

Olympian Ashok Kumar is quite happy with the preparations in progress to celebrate his father and hockey wizard Major Dhyanchands birth anniversary (on August 29) which is celebrated as National Sports Day.

Olympian Ashok Kumar is quite happy with the preparations in progress to celebrate his father and hockey wizard Major Dhyanchands birth anniversary (on August 29) which is celebrated as National Sports Day. The fact that hockey tournaments are organised throughout the country to mark the occasion fills him with hope every year and so is the case this year.

Talking to The Indian Express,the Arjuna awardee said, A very positive atmosphere is created for hockey throughout the country. The tournaments organised on that day give a message and encourage the youngsters to do well in the sport but then the success of these events in the broader perspective depends upon Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the sports department officials and hockey Olympians in various states. They should try to carry on the tempo by adopting a good work plan.Emphasis should be laid at grassroot level training as this is the most important but most neglected aspect in Indian hockey. It should be seen that the money meant for nurturing young talent is being utilised in a proper way and whether it is being trained by dedicated coaches. Often limited players keep playing for years. To bring a change in the hockey scenario,fresh talent should be skilled to take charge.

He said that in Uttar Pradesh which is the land of hockey giants like Dhyanchand and KD Singh Babu,it is not that the boys are not interested in playing hockey. But the big question arises where to play as there is paucity of grounds in the state. Take for instance the case with Lucknow. The Dhyanchand astro-turf stadium is located at Kursi Road and how often are hockey trainees of the KD Singh Babu Stadium taken there for astro-turf exposure? The sports department seems to be content with ensuring practice on grassfields whereas the present age is the age of astro-turf hockey.

Though UP has produced some names like Tushar Khandekar,Diwakar Ram and Danish Majtaba but I am not satisfied with the way things are going in UP hockey. People should not just provide impressive statistics about things,they should be dedicated towards hockey promotion. I felt very sad when I came to know through some mediaperson in Jhansi today that Tushar Khandekar is worried who will carry the baton’ forward after him. The coaches should not only be experienced but also knowledgeable about the world hockey so as to produce good players.

Ashok Kumar who is chief coach and advisor with MP Hockey Academy is full of praise for the Madhya Pradesh government. It is really serious about hockey promotionbe it extensive search for hockey talent in different cities,or providing it a monthly stipend and listening to the advice of the hockey Olympians. That is the reason why Bhopal is becoming a hub of Indian hockey.

Ashok Kumar,who himself has been national selector in the recent past,suggests that national championships should be organised every year and from that 40 to 50 talented players should be selected by the selectors in consultation with the national coaches. After that a camp of selected players should be organised,he said.

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Need to tap talent at grassroot level: Ashok Kumar

Olympian Ashok Kumar is quite happy with the preparations in progress to celebrate his father and hockey wizard Major Dhyanchands birth anniversary (on August 29) which is celebrated as National Sports Day.

Olympian Ashok Kumar is quite happy with the preparations in progress to celebrate his father and hockey wizard Major Dhyanchands birth anniversary (on August 29) which is celebrated as National Sports Day.