The Hockey India League (HIL) returns with the promise of “bigger, bolder, better”. In its first iteration, the competition lasted five seasons before being discontinued. However, Hockey India (HI) President Dilip Tirkey, a former captain, pushed for its return hoping that its revival will help in unearthing the next generation of international stars and help in widening the talent pool of world-class women players in the country. Another former India captain and Tirkey’s teammate, Arjun Halappa shares his sentiments.
While the broader goal is to make Indian hockey a dominant force globally, Halappa reckons HIL will also help the players financially while adding that HI should take a call on introducing central contracts and make the sport a viable career option for the future generation.
Halappa, one of the finest Indian midfielders, represented the country in the Athens Olympics, three World Cups, and two Asian Games. He was part of the Indian team that won gold at the junior World Cup in 2001 and with the senior team, won the CWG silver (2010) and Asiad bronze (2010).
News18 caught up with the India legend in the national capital recently where he opened up on a variety of topics including HIL’s return, the importance of a former player in HI setup, what the men’s team needs to do to change the colour of their medal at the Olympics and more.
EXCEPRTS
The Hockey India League (HIL) is returning after a gap of seven years. What are your expectations?
A big congratulations to Hockey India for getting HIL back and also one more pat on Hockey India for taking a big step towards setting up the Women’s Hockey League too. It was quite a challenge, lots of questions were asked, tough questions, about the grassroots program, especially about how the women’s league will sustain itself. I think Hockey India is being cautious in how to make the league sustainable so that like earlier, it shouldn’t stop after five years. I think that’s where the pricing and all have come in.
From hockey’s point of view, I think HIL will play a huge part in a player’s development. In our time, the initial process (towards establishing the league) started in 2009, and it got underway around 2013. HIL gives the chance to our young players to share the dressing room with the top players from across the world, understanding them, the work culture, and little things like the mentality of the approach. That exposure was not there (before HIL), and it has been bridged now. Now you can see the results in the men’s hockey, and I hope that will also happen for the women’s hockey. That is what we want to see, especially for women. We want to see them (women’s team) consistently playing at the Olympics and be on the podium next time around. That is where I see the Hockey India League will play a huge part in the development of women’s hockey.
Apart from the exposure HIL provides the players, one of its major allures is it provides them an opportunity to earn more. You’ve talked about introducing central contracts for players in the past. Do you think the time has come for Hockey India to take a step in that direction?
Yes, of course, I think Hockey India committee members need to take a call on that but the first thing is, as I said, this league financially helps you a lot. Apart from your career as a professional hockey player, the more important thing is when you go back as a national player, represent your country, and win a medal, you don’t want to see your family struggling financially. I know it is tough, the journey has started one step at a time. I still feel a lot can be done from hockey point of view.
There is a huge potential to tap into hockey as a market. I think everyone says if we win a medal in hockey, it comes across as something really special for the whole country. So, I think we need to tap into those emotions and attachment to hockey as a country to get the best out of it commercially. I hope this happens in the future. Men are doing pretty well and I hope this happens in women’s games too. I want to see many young kids picking up hockey as a professional career.
Speaking of men’s hockey, how was your assessment of the current Indian men’s hockey team and their performance under new coach Craig Fulton? He introduced a new philosophy – defend to attack – as opposed to his predecessor Graham Reid. Does it impact the players’ mentality and their performance?
You can’t say impact, it is all about adaptability. I think when you are playing at the top level, you start to adapt. You might play attacking hockey but at the end of it, you have to defend too, right? So you need to get the balance right from the team’s point of view. Attack and defence. Of course, Reid has done a wonderful job winning a medal after 42 years (Tokyo Games bronze) and that is a huge achievement, no doubt but we need to take the next step. There is always a new beginning. Today I am there, next day tomorrow someone will come – that’s sports. I think our national players have been adapting pretty well to Fulton’s tactical and technical point of view. And also the results have been coming out right which is the end game – you need results. Of course, sometimes you have a bad day maybe defensively or in attacking but the final result is very important.
I think the best thing is they are gelling well as a team. Against England (at the Paris Olympics men’s quarterfinals), at one point India had nine players (on the field after Amit Rohidas was shown a red card and then a green card (to another player). I think that speaks volumes for a team to get the result out of nothing (India won in the shootout). So, that is where I think Fulton has played a huge part as a coach. I think the support system needs to be credited too for this because we always speak about the players and we end up forgetting about the support staff. I think a strong support team is important. And credit to Hockey India also. I think everyone has to play a part – could be small but that is the way the sport is played.
Two Olympics and two bronze medals. What does this team need to do next to get that elusive gold medal now?
Of course, the colour has to be changed, no doubt, but we need to give credit (for back-to-back medals) right? Every team, whichever comes ahead, might be lower lower-ranked team or higher higher-ranked team, top of the world everyone wants to win it. I think steps have been taken, but more than that the consistency is there. For the past seven to eight years, India have consistently beaten the top teams. I think that makes a huge difference in making that step towards the journey (of winning Olympics gold). I think, most of the top teams are quite scared of this Indian team now. That is a huge thing for us as a hockey team. I still feel there is a lot of potential to improve, no doubt.
I can’t speak about the technical or tactical parts because I am not involved in the system at this point but I hope to see lots of field goals coming in. Of course the dependency is there in Harmanpreet Singh, we are trying to create short corners. I just hope to see some field goal. More than winning, it’s also about entertaining the people. It’s important to get people into the stadium too.
Can you talk about your role with the Hockey India League?
I have been part of Hockey India as a player, captain, selector, coach. I am now with the Hockey India League. Part of JSW (owner of Haryana and Punjab franchises in HIL) now as a technical advisor. We have set up a private academy in Bengaluru and we are covering around 10-11 sports. We are called Lakshyan Academy of Sports. So that is where I am busy right now. I am engaged with sports completely. Hockey is a different ball game though – not too much into it at the top level but domestically I am a little bit involved.
I want to be involved more from an academic point of view. Two-three years down the line, fingers crossed, we might set up a good hockey academy in Bangalore.
PR Sreejesh has pulled out from the auction. A word on his legacy.
I can’t say why he pulled out because it’s his personal decision. Everyone has their own reasons, which could be injuries, or age also. Then he has taken retirement and must have family commitments. I don’t know what it is but he has made a decision and we need to respect that, and give that freedom to him given what he’s done for the nation for the past 15-20 years now. It’s a massive contribution, a great career. I am very happy as a hockey player to another hockey player ending a career on a high. I’ve never seen this happening in hockey. I really cherish seeing this as a player and as an ex-captain. I wish him luck for the next journey.
Dilip Tirkey is the first former hockey player to have been elected as HI president. How much of a difference does it make having a player part of the administration? He’s also introduced financial assistance to a core group of senior players who don’t have a job.
See, nothing against the administration but I think players who have played at the top level, and who understand (the sport deeply are important). Most of the hockey players who come from a very poor background – they understand it. I think good initiative by Hockey India especially Dilip Bhai at the top now. It looks like a small amount but it plays a huge part, especially for the young kids who don’t have money, come from a poor family, and don’t have food to eat. So those small things have to be taken care of and it will be very helpful. I know playing for India is the number one priority for everyone as an Indian but when we aren’t playing, at that time, we need some financial backing and that is where Hockey India is playing a part. I hope it will keep on improving.