Field hockey in India
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Field hockey is the national game of India. [1]
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[edit] Management
[edit] Indian Hockey Federation
The Indian Hockey Federation was the Indian branch of the International Hockey Federation. In April, 2008, Kandaswamy Jothikumaran, the IHF's Secretary General, resigned after a television show accused him of corruption. [2] K P S Gill, IHF chief for 14 years, lost his position [3] when the Indian Hockey Federation was suspended by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on April 28.THE IHF is now a defunct body , instead a committee appointed by the IOA looks after is functioning of hockey in India.[4]
[edit] New Committee (IOA)
The Indian Olympic Association appointed a new five-member national selection committee. This panel will work in conjunction with the International Field Hockey Federation in managing hockey in India. [5] The panel is headed by Aslam Sher Khan, a former MP and former hockey captain and includes Ashok Kumar, Ajit Pal Singh, Zafar Iqbal, and Dhanraj Pillay. [6], [7] Australian coach Ric Charlesworth will serve as an advisor to the committee. [8] In a 30 April 2008 interview with India Today, Khan indicated the impact of the 2007 film about the National Women's Hockey Team, Chak De India, on his future strategy by stating that he wants "to create a 'Chak De' effect" within Indian hockey. [9]
[edit] National teams
[edit] National men's team
The Indian Hockey Team is the national men's field hockey team of India. It was the first non-European team to be a part of the International Hockey Federation. In 1928, the team won its first Olympic gold medal. From 1928 to 1956, the Indian men's team remained unbeaten in the Olympics, garnering six gold medals in a row. The Indian team has won a total of eight gold, one silver and two bronze medals in Olympics.
On 9 March 2008, India lost 2-0 to Britain at Santiago, Chile in the final of one of the three qualifying tournaments for the Beijing Olympics. With only the winner advancing to the 12-team event, [10] the Indian men's team was eliminated from the Beijing Olympics competition. This is the first time that the Indian men's team will not participate in the Olympics since 1928.[11]
[edit] National women's team
The Indian Women's Hockey Team is the national women's team representing field hockey in India. Captain Suraj Lata Devi led the team to the Gold for three consecutive years: during the 2002 Commonwealth Games (the event which inspired the 2007 Bollywood hit film, Chak De India), the 2003 Afro-Asian Games, and the 2004 Hockey Asia Cup. They were referred to as the assi (Jasjeet) jaisi koi nahi or "Golden girls of hockey," after winning the 2004 Hockey Asia Cup. [12]
On 24 April 2008, India lost 2-1 to the United States during the 2008 Women's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier. The team was thus eliminated from the Beijing Olympics competition. On 29 April 2008, following the suspension of the Indian Hockey Federation, [13] The Hindustan Times revealed that 16 days before leaving for the games, a report found many of the players to be unfit for international competition. The report was quoted as stating, "Eleven girls are suffering from different injuries and are under treatment and thus not fit for international competition of Olympic qualifying standards." [14]
[edit] State teams and events
State teams include the Hyderabad Sultans, Orissa Steelers, Maratha Warriors, Sher-e-Jalandhar, Chandigarh Dynamos, Chennai Veerans, and Bangalore Hi-fliers. Events include the Premier Hockey League, Beighton Cup, and Kodava Hockey Festival.
