#13. How Hockey Became Less Popular In India

Once upon a time, in the land where cricket now reigns supreme, there was another sport that captured the hearts of India—it was called Hockey.

Before we get to how & what caused Hockey to lose its popularity, let me give you a quick background on how it got popular in the first place.

The story of Hockey begins in 1936, against the backdrop of Adolf Hitler's Germany. The 1936 Olympics were taking place in Berlin, and the final match of hockey was a battle between India and Germany. India's men's hockey team was determined to prove themselves, even though they had been defeated by Germany in a previous match. Leading the charge was a player named ‘Dhyan Chand.’

The game was fast-paced, and India scored an impressive 8 goals against just 1 lonely goal by Germany, with Dhyan Chand contributing three of those. Adolf Hitler was so impressed that he offered German citizenship and a position in the German army to Dhyan Chand during the presentation ceremony. However, Dhyan Chand firmly declared, "India is not for sale!" The whole stadium fell silent, but Hitler, in awe of Dhyan Chand's talent, bestowed upon him the title of "Wizard of Hockey."

This victory marked India's third consecutive Olympic Gold medal in hockey, with five more to follow in the years 1948, 1952, 1956, 1964, and 1980. The Indian hockey team were also the world champions in 1975, and the nation took immense pride in their players. However, not many people know that hockey has a history in India that predates the Olympics.

Hockey's roots in India go back to the time when the British introduced the sport in the 1850’s. Indian players quickly excelled, and the sport gained popularity in cities like Calcutta and Bombay. The Indian Hockey Federation was established, and Indian hockey made its mark on the world stage.

The Indian hockey team began participating in the Olympics, and their success was unparalleled. After winning six Gold medals and 24 consecutive matches, India's hockey prowess was unquestionable.

The Decline of Indian Hockey:

Hockey's popularity started to wane in the 1960s. A change in playing style and the transition to AstroTurf fields created hurdles for the Indian hockey team.

The lack of proper infrastructure and internal politics further hindered their performance. The decline of Indian hockey can be likened to a once-thriving Roman empire slowly losing its power due to a combination of internal challenges and evolving external conditions.

While hockey struggled, cricket was on the rise. In 1971, India's cricket team achieved a historic victory against England, igniting a cricket frenzy in the country. The habit of gathering around the radio to listen to cricket commentary brought people together. Newspapers and magazines started covering cricket extensively, turning cricketers into celebrities.

The era of live match broadcasting coincided with the rise of cricket, whereas hockey, by then a relatively mature sport, was on the decline in India. Hockey, at it’s peak, had no media coverage, whereas cricket, even in it’s initial years, ended up getting a lot of media coverage. People got to watch cricket matches live, while hockey’s past achievements were quickly forgotten.

The growth of cricket and the lack of media coverage for hockey led to a shift in people's interests. Cricket's popularity surged, and it soon became the dominant sport in India. The economic liberalisation of the country further fueled cricket's success. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) became the richest cricket body globally.

Cricket's rise was facilitated by the support of advertisers, brands, and private companies. The logic was simple – invest where the audience's attention lies. And so, the popularity of cricket continued to soar, while Hockey’s declined.

To summarise, here are the key reasons why Hockey isn’t the top sport in India anymore:

1. Transition to AstroTurf: The global shift from natural grass to AstroTurf in the late 20th century significantly impacted Indian hockey. AstroTurf requires a different style of play and equipment, for which the Indian contingent was unprepared at the time. This change disadvantaged Indian players accustomed to playing on grass fields, leading to a decline in their international competitiveness.

2. Inadequate Infrastructure and Resources: India lacked the necessary infrastructure, such as sufficient AstroTurf fields, and resources for training and development in hockey. This lack of investment and support limited the opportunities for players to adapt to new playing conditions and hindered the growth of the sport at both grassroots and elite levels.

3. Rise of Cricket's Popularity: The meteoric rise of cricket in India, especially after the national team's significant victories in the 1970s and 1980s, shifted the public's and media's attention away from hockey. Cricket's growing popularity overshadowed hockey, attracting more sponsorships, media coverage, and youth interest.

4. Internal Politics and Mismanagement: Internal politics within the hockey administration and mismanagement of the sport contributed to its decline. Issues like poor decision-making, lack of transparency, and organisational disputes affected the development and performance of hockey teams at national and international levels.

5. Lack of Media Coverage and Public Interest: As cricket became more popular, media coverage for hockey diminished significantly. This lack of exposure reduced public interest and awareness of hockey, leading to a decrease in viewership, fan support, and potential revenue streams that could have helped in developing the sport.

6. Money + Popularity Amongst Youth: Hockey’s format did not provide too many opportunities for brands to advertise. Hockey only had 1 ad break in a 70-minute game and had very few opportunities for brands to integrate into the game. Additionally, the youth of the country saw heroes in Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, & Sachin Tendulkar but didn’t see any heroes in Hockey in the mid-80's, and hence every kid wanted to replicate the cricketers success, and no one wanted to be the next Dhanraj Pillay, although brilliant at his craft, was relatively unknown.

As I conclude, I do hope that in the future, alongside cricket, other sports in India will gain the recognition they deserve.