Decoding the Indian sporting spirit
One is forced to laugh at Batra’s claim that Pakistan players' behaviour was against India's sporting norm, traditions
Germany were fittingly crowned the winners of the Champions Trophy hockey tournament after an exciting final against unfancied Pakistan — a team unwelcomed in the tournament-decider after daring to defeat the hosts in a nerve wracking semi-final. The ‘gracious’ hosts were left seething after witnessing their arch-rivals’ ‘over the top’ celebrations in their own backyard in Bhubaneswar. Some of the Pakistan players had taken off their shirts and perhaps just the sight of their bare bodies and a couple of middle fingers directed towards the crowd were enough to rip at the seams of the traditions and values that embody India.
After crying hoarse throughout the night following the match, the beleaguered president of Hockey India (HI), Narendra Batra, resorted to threatening the governing body of the game. He told the International Hockey Federation (FIH), “If no action is taken against Pakistan team then India will not host any international events in future and if such objectionable behaviour is tolerable for the FIH, then they must take their events to countries who are ready to ready to tolerate the kind of behaviour that the Pakistan players exhibited.”
The FIH wilted under the pressure and slapped bans on two Pakistan players, as HI acting as the playground bully, succeeded in using its clout and financial muscle to push through an injudicious verdict. Shahnaz Sheikh, the Pakistan coach, had apologised straightaway for the misdemeanours of his players. While the celebration antics of the players cannot be condoned, they were in no way different from what a number of Indian teams and players of the past and present have indulged in.
Batra was forced to eat humble pie only hours after the decision as one of India’s own players pushed an Australian rival, with the hosts succumbing to another defeat in their bronze medal play-off match. But to date, the FIH is quiet. It was also quiet when one of the German players celebrated his goal in the tournament final with another obscene gesture. Since the obscene gesture was a European one, Batra perhaps failed to spot it!
One is forced to laugh at Batra’s claim that the behaviour of Pakistan players were against the great sporting norms and traditions of India. Well Mr Batra, forced by your great desire to play to the gallery, you seemingly forgot that the same ‘sporting’ and ‘affectionate’ Indian crowd hurled stones at the 1989 Asia Cup-winning Pakistan hockey team. Many players, including the current secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, Rana Mujahid, sustained injuries during the incident in Delhi, with the crime of the Greenshirts simply being to beat their rivals in a game of hockey. Mr Batra, you must also recall the scenes at your cauldron of cricket, Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, as Pakistan closed in on a Test win in 1999. We are also forced to ask if indeed the Indian sporting tradition and spirit took a dent or was raised a notch as Sourav Ganguly pumped his fist and swung his shirt while baring his chest at the hallowed cricket turf of Lord’s?
Also, please elaborate as to how did you allow Prabhjot Singh to get away with a slap on the wrist only, when he made the obscene gesture on the hockey pitch? Mr Batra, the fans on this side of the Wagah are unequivocal in their condemnation of the ‘over the top’ celebrations of our players, but before preaching Pakistan on the topic of displaying sporting behaviour, please spend some time preaching your own sporting stars too.
While the electronic, print and social media in Pakistan continue to remain abuzz with pictures and videos of offensive on-field behaviour of Indian players, one is forced to lament the spineless stance of the PHF. Gone are the days when Pakistan ruled the roost at the FIH. The financially crippled supreme body of the sport in the country has been jostling for funds and recognition for nearly a decade now and rather than taking the unjust ruling head on, the Greenshirts entered the field for the final with their heads bowed. Their Indian counterparts, on the other hand, have improved the stake of their national game by leaps and bounds in recent years and through their vast market for the sport, can coerce the international body to make rulings in their favour. Pakistan must also take the bull by the horns and build on the success in Bhubaneswar. Hockey must get the requisite support of the public and private sectors since our players are still immensely talented, possessing the ability to tame even the mightiest on their day.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2014.
After crying hoarse throughout the night following the match, the beleaguered president of Hockey India (HI), Narendra Batra, resorted to threatening the governing body of the game. He told the International Hockey Federation (FIH), “If no action is taken against Pakistan team then India will not host any international events in future and if such objectionable behaviour is tolerable for the FIH, then they must take their events to countries who are ready to ready to tolerate the kind of behaviour that the Pakistan players exhibited.”
The FIH wilted under the pressure and slapped bans on two Pakistan players, as HI acting as the playground bully, succeeded in using its clout and financial muscle to push through an injudicious verdict. Shahnaz Sheikh, the Pakistan coach, had apologised straightaway for the misdemeanours of his players. While the celebration antics of the players cannot be condoned, they were in no way different from what a number of Indian teams and players of the past and present have indulged in.
Batra was forced to eat humble pie only hours after the decision as one of India’s own players pushed an Australian rival, with the hosts succumbing to another defeat in their bronze medal play-off match. But to date, the FIH is quiet. It was also quiet when one of the German players celebrated his goal in the tournament final with another obscene gesture. Since the obscene gesture was a European one, Batra perhaps failed to spot it!
One is forced to laugh at Batra’s claim that the behaviour of Pakistan players were against the great sporting norms and traditions of India. Well Mr Batra, forced by your great desire to play to the gallery, you seemingly forgot that the same ‘sporting’ and ‘affectionate’ Indian crowd hurled stones at the 1989 Asia Cup-winning Pakistan hockey team. Many players, including the current secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, Rana Mujahid, sustained injuries during the incident in Delhi, with the crime of the Greenshirts simply being to beat their rivals in a game of hockey. Mr Batra, you must also recall the scenes at your cauldron of cricket, Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, as Pakistan closed in on a Test win in 1999. We are also forced to ask if indeed the Indian sporting tradition and spirit took a dent or was raised a notch as Sourav Ganguly pumped his fist and swung his shirt while baring his chest at the hallowed cricket turf of Lord’s?
Also, please elaborate as to how did you allow Prabhjot Singh to get away with a slap on the wrist only, when he made the obscene gesture on the hockey pitch? Mr Batra, the fans on this side of the Wagah are unequivocal in their condemnation of the ‘over the top’ celebrations of our players, but before preaching Pakistan on the topic of displaying sporting behaviour, please spend some time preaching your own sporting stars too.
While the electronic, print and social media in Pakistan continue to remain abuzz with pictures and videos of offensive on-field behaviour of Indian players, one is forced to lament the spineless stance of the PHF. Gone are the days when Pakistan ruled the roost at the FIH. The financially crippled supreme body of the sport in the country has been jostling for funds and recognition for nearly a decade now and rather than taking the unjust ruling head on, the Greenshirts entered the field for the final with their heads bowed. Their Indian counterparts, on the other hand, have improved the stake of their national game by leaps and bounds in recent years and through their vast market for the sport, can coerce the international body to make rulings in their favour. Pakistan must also take the bull by the horns and build on the success in Bhubaneswar. Hockey must get the requisite support of the public and private sectors since our players are still immensely talented, possessing the ability to tame even the mightiest on their day.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2014.