UNSUNG HOCKEY STARS

In my last article I had written how hockey which is our national sport has no value today in India. In this article I have a story to support it.
The other day I was walking on Bandra station to catch a train. There I saw Viren Rasquinha leaving the station. I’m sure most of the people reading this won’t know who I’m talking about.
So let me tell u all that I’m talking about Viren Rasquinha, the hockey player from Mumbai who played for the Indian National Team. He was a national level hockey player. He retired from hockey just a few days back to pursue his management studies. He played many games for our country and is quite a regular face on the newspapers .
He was casually walking with a bag hung around his shoulders and earphones in his ears like any other person on the station. I saw him and kept staring at him. I was wondering ‘What is Viren Rasquinha doing on Bandra station?’ But I was more surprised to see that no one seemed to recognize him there. No one even gave him a second look. He was just another guy for everyone else there. If it would have been Sachin or Sourav walking there you can imagine what the scenario would have been. Even some small time cricketer or a TV star would attract more attention. So why not a big hockey player like Viren Rasquinha ? I saw one news channel going around asking people for the names of five hockey players in the Indian national team and not a single person could answer it.
I would blame the media for this. If the media puts the hockey news and hockey players photos in some corner of the newspaper we cant expect the people to notice it. We know how the media can make or break something. So I hope the media does something to save our dying National game and their stars.

KUDOS TO Dr. VIJAY MALLYA

In India sports is synonymous to cricket. People in India only give importance to cricket because of which the other games have taken a back seat. Other sports are not given any importance. Infact hockey which is our national sport has no value today.
But the scenario is changing now a days. And I believe one person who has made a genuine effort to encourage sports in India is Dr. Vijay Mallya. It is because of him that games like football and f1 racing are gaining popularity in India. More people are watching football , f1 racing and tennis which are internationally more popular games.
He sponsored the East Bengal football club . During this time East Bengal won the Asean Cup which helped them earn a name in the international scene. Baichung Bhutia also played for English Club Bury.
He has also bought a f1 team and named it Force India. I feel so proud when I watch f1 racing now . I can support my own country now instead of Ferrari or Mclaren. Our team has just started but is doing quite well and I'm sure the day is not far when the drivers of our team will be standing on the podium and our national anthem will be played. He has not ignored cricket too.
He has done a great deal to encourage different games other than cricket in India. He has helped games like football and f1 gain popularity in India.
Dr Vijay Mallya's efforts to encourage various sports in India deserves an applause.