THE NEXT GOAL

Echoes of history in Olympic glory

Hockey, hockey everywhere

Hockey is our de-facto national sport. And it should percolate to our lives. To build on the foundation of the Olympic performance, the sport needs to be all around us – in schools, in playgrounds, as a pastime, as exercise, and as a daily activity.

Invest in facilities, coaches, and talent hunts at the grassroots, and in making hockey a viable profession for second- and third-rung players. A lot has been said this week about how the Odisha government supported India’s national hockey teams (men and women, senior and junior), how it pumped in ₹150 crore over five years despite being a poor state, and how it offered the squads a training base. This is an example for all states to follow. Hockey needs a self-sustaining network across the country, like the one cricket has. Sponsoring the national team is one part of it; the key is for states to promote local teams. It may not be as rewarding or eye-catching, but these are the real building blocks.

Hockey may have been brought to India by British servicemen in the 19th century, but it is our de-facto national sport. And, therefore, it should percolate to our lives. Just as badminton courts and table-tennis tables dot the urban landscape in China, basketball courts are found in every neighbourhood in the US, and wrestling mats are laid out at streetside gyms in Bulgaria, hockey needs to be all around us – in schools, in playgrounds, as a pastime, as exercise, as a daily activity.

The more we play, the more we’ll win.