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Is the Asian Style of Hockey Irrelevant Today?

With the introduction of Astro Turf and Frequent Changes in the Rules of the Game - always favouring Western Nations - the Class, Elegance and Quality of Hockey has taken a Back-Seat especially in the Asian Nations. This has forced them to leave their style of game and replace it with the Western "Mechanistic" Style of Play. The question has been asked in this backdrop. I am a keen follower of the game and loves the elegant Indian and Pakistan Style of Hockey.

Public Comments

1. It is true that the Indian style of Hockey is eye pleasing. The beautiful stick work is facinating. But with the advent of fast european style of hockey characterised by long passes with lesser stick work, the Indian style of Hockey has taken a back seat. But surprisingly, Pakistan and to some extent Australia has been more successful in the recent past with the Indian style of Hockey. India is still marred by the hiring of European coaches from time to time. India is neither able to follow its traditional style nor has been able to adopt the European style with success. Basically the decision should be made outrightly whether to stick to the Indian style or to the European style. The drawback with adopting the European style is that at grassroot levels, particularly the Hocket bastion - Punjab, Indian style is taught by the coaches and to hire European coaches at those levels is practically not feasible. This creates havoc as the players grow in stature and come at the International level, they are told to adopt the European style by the European coaches. It is just a fiasco. I hope, you too will agree, that we should stick to the Indian style and hire relevant coaches only (even if from Pakistan) and try to excel in that style. Let us see how the camel turns. Let us hope for the best. I am also a keen follower of the game, but off late the failure of Indian team at International level has hurt me.