Sahara India Parivar, the sponsors of World Cup, has released Rs 1 crore to be distributed immediately among the striking players. Also, UP chief minister has announced a financial assistance of Rs five crore to Indian hockey team. So, the strike might come to an end with this. The whole episode had been very disturbing when the Indian players had gone on strike when the Hockey India did not listen to their demand to release their arrears for 2009, a graded payment system and daily allowance for the players (during matches and during practice sessions).
Our View: The condition of hockey or any other sport, except cricket, is very bad in India. We can take two clues from here :
1. The role of administrator: It is very clear that administrator are not acting in the right way. They are administrator and should be capable to arrange funds for the game. The funding and promotion of games should not be the responsibility of the state/government. They should have thought about the situation and should have approached sponsors. Like after the incidence had become public a sum of Rs 6 crores has come as sponsorship. They should have thought long term and acted like good professional to manage the game. Also, I certainly feel that the money that was given to them as a grant is not being utilized wisely to promote the game or possibly the money is not at all being used for the right purpose.
2. The current condition of games, an opportunity: Now since the game is not popular, at least with sponsors and mass public it needs proper attention so that games in general can be given the right credit. If you study the developments in the cities you would realize that people spend a lot on making malls and multiplexes, one can also think of developing a large sports complex with very good facility that people would enjoy and pay for. They can create fans clubs; make teams to promote the games. There is an opportunity here, someone has to explore it.