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Journalism of Courage
New Delhi, October 21: Malaysia8217;s decision to pull out of the proposed hockey Test series against India may not ruffle the Indian hockey officialdom. For, the feeling is that Malaysia, after all, is just another lowly-placed hockey nation and there is still plenty of hockey in store for the Indians before they leave for Bangkok Asian Games. But what they are forgetting is that stunning semi-final defeat in the Commonwealth Games when the Malaysians reduced a couple of top Indian stars to tears.
Laudable it is on part of the Indian Hockey Federation to send teams for international tournaments and organise Test series. But a closer look at India8217;s itinerary in the run-up to the Asian Games gives a better idea of the quality of the competition 8212; or rather the lack of it and the thoughtless planning of the IHF.
The difference becomes even more stark, when IHF8217;s planning is put alongside that of Pakistan, Korea and Malaysia 8212; three nations which besides India will be the front-runners for the medals atBangkok.
The IHF decided to send two teams, one to Cairo and one to Bangkok for a five-nation tournament. But strangely, it has opted to send the first string to Bangkok, where the opposition includes Thailand and Uzbekistan. IHF8217;s argument: this will be an acclimatisation trip for the Indian team before it goes to the same city for the Asian Games.
Meanwhile, the IHF will field a second string side in Cairo, where the opposition is expected to be far stronger, including Malaysia. It is not yet known which are the other teams in Cairo, but even if the two strongest teams are Malaysia and hosts Egypt though England are also believed to have confirmed 8212; surely that would be better than Uzbekistan and Thailand.The IHF8217;s packed8217; itinerary also includes a Test series against Sri Lanka.
This series seems nothing more than an exercise in public relations as the Islanders would fail to test even the middle rung club sides of the country. This has been borne out in some domestic tournaments where Lanka hasfielded teams in the past.
Compare this with the competition schedule of Pakistan and South Korea, and the significance of Malaysian pull-out begins to sink in. Pakistan, drawn in the same group as India for the Bangkok Games, and South Korea are expected to be India8217;s main adversaries. And Malaysia, of course, cannot be discounted especially after their Commonwealth Games silver.
Pakistan and South Korea are getting the best possible competition in the run-up to the Games, as they are playing the Champions Trophy 8212; the annual turnout for the Elite Six 8212; which starts in Lahore on October 31. The Koreans here have benefitted from the last-minute withdrawal of England from the event.
Thus, while the Pakistanis and the Koreans will be testing fresh strategies against top teams like Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and Australia the Indians will be on an acclimatisation mission against pathetic opposition in Bangkok.
Given this scenario, a four-Test series against Malaysia would have provided the Indiancoaches the right stage for rectifying mistakes which go unnoticed during coaching camps.
The latest fiasco then, has once again brought into focus the thoughtless planning by the IHF, who can still retrieve the situation by sending a first-string to the Egyptian Capital and the second string for the Bangkok five-nation tournament.
