Indian Women's Hockey team deserve some credit and attention

The Women’s Hockey team of India has always been the most underestimated squad in the country. India is a cricket obsessed nation but Indian women manage to raise a few eyebrows in Badminton, Tennis, Boxing and Cricket. But this bunch with sticks in hand is treated with least affection from the system.

Its a known fact that Hockey doesn’t inspire revenue in the country. It is neither sponsored nor telecasted on the sports channels as much as they should be. We often have to make do with the news or radio to learn about the going of the Hockey teams.

The overall scenario of Hockey is gloomy but women’s hockey is more dejected. Women’s Hockey squad has never been aspired for achievements which they have managed to deliver. Against the odds in the on going Asian Champions Trophy Indian women continued their impressive show and spanked Malaysia 5-1 to secure their place in the summit clash.

Its skeptical whether people even remember what the women’s team has achieved despite the negligence of the country towards them. The underrated milestones of Indian Women’s Hockey,

2002 Champions Challenge in Malaysia where the ladies were crowned Champions and finished 3rd twice in 2007 and 2009 held in Belgium and Argentina respectively.

2002 Commonwealth Games in England. They outperformed the English team to clinch the title. Indian Team also ended second best in 2006 Commonwealth Games at Australia.

1982 Asian Games Indian Team managed to outclass every other Asian Team to win the tournament. They also managed a 2nd position in Thailand in 1998 and a 3rd place finish in 2006 at Doha, Qatar. Moreover the Indian Women’s Hockey Team has never finished beyond the 4th place in the Asian Games.

2004 Indian Team emerged winners of the Asia Cup beating Japan 1-0 in the Final at New Delhi.

2003 In Afro Asian Games this team under the captaincy of Suraj Lata Devi notched the Gold Medal at Hyderabad.

Despite all these efforts the women never get their due appraisal and respect. The scheme of things are different than other competing nations. This fact can’t be negated that Indian team is up against the likes of more Women’s sport frenzy countries like England, Japan, Australia, Netherlands and many more.

They don’t have any genuine fan following either. People just start expecting when any major competition comes around.

This team doesn’t seek any of those melodramatic ovations and floods of people gathering at the airports in awe to have a slight glance of them as they do for their cricketers. Hockey team has no endorsements as such and they don’t even need any.

What they actually want is a little bit more love from the supporters and a place in the priority list of the system of the country. They want people to actually like them for what they are and not just bring them into specter when they perform badly somewhere. The sports lovers create a huge fan following for individuals in other sports like Cricket, Tennis and Badminton for their individual brilliance in their respective sports.

Likewise players like Jyoti Sunita Kullu who received the Topscorer award for five goals in Champions Challenge in South Africa and Rani Devi had received the Most Promising young player award in the Olympic qualifiers in 2008. These names don’t expect much but at least a Facebook Fan Page would do immense good to their morals.

People should not forget that their is an equal representation from the Women’s Hockey team in the list of Arjun Awards recipients along with the other sports.

Helen Mary, 2004, Suraj Lata Devi (former captain), 2003, Mamta Kharab, 2002, Madhu Yadav, 2000, Tingonleima Chanu, 2000, S. Omana Kumari, 1998, Pritam Rani Siwach (former captain), 1998. These are a few dignified members of the Women’s Hockey squad of India who have received the Arjun Award over the years.

What we need to do to raise the level of this game at the moment is to cheer every achievement or progress that the Hockey fraternity makes. India’s junior women’s Hockey team recently won a bronze medal in the world cup and it was a real occasion of pride for the country. Indian swimmer Nisha Millet contemplating the scenario quoted on the achievement “I’m proud of the girls, but without financial backing, it is difficult for sports persons to continue playing. Due to poor monetary support, many budding and talented sports persons have given up competitive sport,”