NEWS
MATCH REPORTS
STAT SHEET
DIARY
HOT LINKS
SLIDE SHOW
BOOKS & THINGS
PEOPLE
DEAR REDIFF

Revival of Indo-Pak hockey ties mooted

Former Olympians have come out strongly in favour of reviving Indo-Pak hockey ties, in context of the fact that relations between the two countries have shown signs of being on the mend in recent times.

"There is a definite need for reviving the hockey Tests between the two countries. Besides improving the standards of the game in both countries, it will help the process of healing that has now been put in place. When the Pakistan cricket team can visit us for the Independence Cup, then why not the Pak hockey team?" demanded former Olympian Munner Sait, while the likes of M P Ganesh, M M Somaiah and Zafar Iqbal endorsed his opinion.

The Olympians were gathered in Bangalore for the ongoing Punjab and Sind Bank-sponsored 58th National Senior Hockey Championships, at the Sports Authority of India's southern centre ground.

The Olympians also mooted the idea of the Indian Hockey Federation regularly hosting three or four nation hockey tournaments, in order to better the standard of play in the country.

IHF secretary general K Jyothikumaran said the present set up had sincerely tried to revive Indo-Pak hockey tours. As a first step, he pointed out, a four nation tournament involving India and Pakistan besides two other nations yet not picked will take place at the neutral venue of Dubai in November this year. The International Hockey Federation has already approved the tournament, Jyothikumaran said.

The IHF secretary general claimed that he has written to the Pakistan Hockey Federation seeking revival of the Test series. The officials were also reminded of it during recent meetings in course of international championships, Jyotikumaran said, adding that "We are still waiting for their response."

The IHF has also drawn up plans for a four nation hockey tournament in July, to involve India and three African nations, Jyothikumaran said.

Former Indian captain and currently director of SAI's southern centre M P Ganesh said that in his view, "The revival of Indo-Pak Tests will be a definite boon, it will help promote the game in the country and also help both teams get their skills honed against each other."