Jul 20, 2003 12:14 PM
4009 Views
(Updated Jul 20, 2003 12:16 PM)
Hockey-the national game of india.Welcome to the HARSH reality.Yes hockey is the national game of india and I think more than 50% of the population is unawre of this fact due to the fact that this has been overshawdowed by the monster game called cricket.There were no sponsors of the game and the only thing which it survived on was the government grants given to IHF.The worst part of the story is that a hockey player officially gets only 10$ per game and u can imagine a guy practising in scroching heat,practicing for like 8 hours a day and getting only 10$.No wonder there are no more children to take up hockey as a professional game thanks to the popularity of the game(sarcasm)
But the recent performances in sydney and hamburg have changed the pictured all together.Not only the wins in these huge tournaments have helped the indian team win laurels but has also helped in getting them a sponsor which matters a lot.All the credit for this goes to the president of IHF K.P.S.GILL who has revived a killing spirit in the team.
The story doesnt end here now after thier back to back wins they have even been approached by corporats for some endorsements.Finally the corporates are looking beyond baby faces and icons and are crediting people who really deserve to be the national heros.
