Chak de spectator

The Indian men’s hockey team came to the Asia Cup as defending champions. So, the joy over the win against the formidable South Koreans in Sunday’s final in Chennai draws from more than the 7-2 scoreline. It’s more to do with the scent of revival. It’s most to do with the sight of packed stands in the stadium and the chatter on the streets that remained the day after. Coming days after India’s unexpected football victory over Syria — again to the wonderful spirit in the stands — it holds promise of more than a future extravagant with good team performances. It could put India on a corrective as a sport-viewing nation by placing the spectator in the stands at the heart of sport. This is not just a nod to the entertaining value of sport — it is the key to incentivising a larger talent pool.

International cricket, for obvious reasons, has in India no concern for the spectator at the ground. And it shows on the big occasions. For one-day internationals, once quotas for affiliated associations and sponsors are through, there is a stampede for the small number of tickets left for sale. For other matches — and these even include Test fixtures against well-reputed teams — the stands are starkly empty. Why? Because the television-rights oriented economics of the sport are such that cricket has no incentive to respect the turnstiles. And thereby, it has zero motivation to make a day at the ground a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Cricket is too well secured by the assurance of millions of television viewers.

For other sports that assurance still does not exist. Hockey and football matches are fast-moving events that last a couple of hours. They are not given to the slow replays to keep the viewer’s interest. They play best even on the TV set to the cheer of the spectators. To get the eyeballs — and thereby a slice of the TV rights pie — they need cooperation from the stadium spectator. And, as on Sunday, if the hockey team thrills with its exceptional display of

India’s traditional strength at dribbling and striking field goals, it will be that much easier.