28 October,2016 10:01 AM IST | | Ashwin Ferro
Hockey India (HI) has extended its strong support to the International Hockey Federation's (FIH) vision of globally expanding the shorter version of the game — Hockey 5s
Maharashtra 'keeper Adrian D'Souza (centre) makes a save vs Karnataka during a 5-a-side tournament in Pune on Wednesday. Pic/Preadeep Dhivar
Hockey India (HI) has extended its strong support to the International Hockey Federation's (FIH) vision of globally expanding the shorter version of the game - Hockey 5s. HI have sent its selection committee chairman and former India player, BP Govinda as a talent scout to the first Hockey India 5-a-side Senior Nationals in Pune.
On Wednesday, Govinda, a member of India's 1975 World Cup-winning team, was busy making notes in the VIP section of the indoor stadium at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi.
Globalising the format
"FIH wants to globalise this version of the game and Hockey India is in agreement of the same. I have been sent here to select the best players from this tournament - approximately 30 men and women - to create a pool from where we can pick Indian teams in future.
Hockey India's chief of selectors BP Govinda. Pic/Ashwin Ferro
"We could soon see a number of such tournaments across Asia and the Indian team will be participating in it," Govinda (65), who played in three Asian Games, told mid-day on Wednesday.
It was the Europeans, who moved hockey, which was traditionally played on grass till the 1970s, to artificial turf thereafter. And as it turns out, the indoor hockey format is also a European contribution.
"Basically, the Europeans invented this indoor format because they could not play the game outdoors throughout the year given the extremely cold weather conditions in their countries. The format is slowly but surely gaining popularity outside Europe now," said Govinda going on to explain a promising futurescope for India in the game.
Skillful brand of hockey
"There's no doubt that indoor hockey is interesting and entertaining especially for the crowd. But most importantly, it demands a very skillful brand of hockey, and that's where I feel India can do well in it because our players possess natural ball skills," added Govinda, going back to his little notebook that is all set to unearth the future Indian Hockey 5s team.
