Aslam Sher Khan, who was a member of the 1975 World Cup hockey winning team, says that it will be good an effort if India manage to finish in top six in the London Olympics. He also says that to keep the interest of hockey alive in the sub-continent, India and Pakistan will have to unite to force the International Hockey Federation to start at least one big tournament on grass. In an interview, Aslam Sher Khan talks much more: Excerpts:
ISN: What are the realistic chances of Indian hockey team in London Olympics?
Aslam Sher Khan: I don’t see India going beyond the sixth position. Even if they manage to do that, it will be commendable for the team. Even to finish in top six, they will have to play their heart out. They will have to play as if they are playing for the medal and as if it’s a do or die situation for them.
ISN: What makes you think so?
Aslam Sher Khan: The competition has become so tough. Everything favours the European in modern hockey. If we talk of the Indian team, qualifying for Olympics and getting medal is two different things. See how the team is performing in the Azlan Shah Cup. They are losing to most of the teams, which even can’t be compared to the best in the world. So hoping much will be a folly.
ISN: Will the fate of Indian hockey ever change to what it was before?
Aslam Shah Khan: If you ask me, it will never change like our old days. Things have changed so much. Everything has been changed in European’s favour. The turf, the rules…everything.
ISN: Your opinion on the introduction of blue turf…will it help India in anyway?
Aslam Shah Khan: Again, it’s a European concept. In 1972 they decided to drop hockey from Olympics and due to protests they relented but with a change and there came in the synthetic turf. It totally changed the way hockey was played. It gave advantage to the Europeans and poor country like ours lagged behind in adapting to the conditions as it was costly to install the turf. What is hockey now? For me it’s more of a European game now where others hardly have a say.
ISN: What do you think should be done to get the glory of this game back in our country?
Aslam Shah Khan: See FIFA also tried to introduce artificial turf in football but poor Latin countries objected to it in unison and sanity prevailed. So similarly if the sub-continent nations have to do well in hockey, India and Pakistan need to unite and insist on having at least one tournament on natural grass, say it the World Cup or a Champions trophy. It will help in instilling interest and we can dominate in that.
By Indian Sports News Network
