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Will Shah Rukh score for Indian hockey?
Former hockey legends believe that SRK might revive the national sport with his new film.
Will Shah Rukh Khan revive people's interest in hockey with his new film Chak De India in which he plays a women's team coach? Former hockey greats believe the Bollywood Badshah might just score for the national sport in this regard. Hockey, we all know, lags far behind cricket, football and even tennis in the Indian popularity stakes. Our sportsmen are making their mark internationally in other disciplines, but the national sport is languishing. So there is all round appreciation that Bollywood has decided to do something about it. SRK and Chak De India might just be the shot in the arm that hockey so desperately needs, feel sports people who also follow films. It might encourage youth to take up hockey again.
Former Indian hockey captain Dhanraj Pillai says positively, "This is the very first film based on hockey and it is sure to pep up the youth. Some practice sessions in Chak De India have been shot at the Bombay Hockey Association (BHA) ground and I too trained the girls for a day," he says. But Dhanraj is unhappy that he isn't actually a part of the film. "If I had trained Shah Rukh, I would have shown him some of my signature shots," the legendary star laments.
Talking of the status of Indian hockey currently , veteran player Viren Rasquinha says, "Shah Rukh Khan's film will definitely make this fascinating sport popular again. But we need to pratice regularly. Otherwise the Indian hockey team will not be able to get back the glory of the golden era gone by. Our performance needs to stand out. Ours is a one-sport nation, we need to encourage youngsters to pursue other sports. Parents push their children academically but sports always tends to take a backseat." In Chak De India , the Bollywood hero reportedly plays the role of former goalkeeper M R Negi whose reputation was tarnished when India lost the 1982 Asian Games final in New Delhi to Pakistan and he was accused of throwing the match. The story goes that Negi was under pressure to perform because Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Zail Singh were watching the match. Zafar Iqbal, the Indian hockey captain of that eventful match, recalls, "The entire team had to be blamed and it wasn't only Negi's fault. After that defeat, we were so ashamed that we ventured out only at nights to avoid public glare. But Chak De India might just brighten up that dark spot in Negi's life and I'm looking forward to the film." Former India women's hockey team captain and Padma Shri Selma D'Silva has another take on the sport she was so proud to lead the country in. "I hope the film really brings in an interest and encouragement to the sport. Indian hockey lacks professionalism. Playing cricket is a career. An Indian cricketer draws a salary. But a hockey player has to take up another job to earn a living ," says Selma who recently accepted voluntary retirement from Western Railways. "Films are inspired from real life. So unless hockey becomes a good career option, nothing much can happen."
nimisha.tiwari@timesgroup .com
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...ow/2165243.cms
Former hockey legends believe that SRK might revive the national sport with his new film.
Will Shah Rukh Khan revive people's interest in hockey with his new film Chak De India in which he plays a women's team coach? Former hockey greats believe the Bollywood Badshah might just score for the national sport in this regard. Hockey, we all know, lags far behind cricket, football and even tennis in the Indian popularity stakes. Our sportsmen are making their mark internationally in other disciplines, but the national sport is languishing. So there is all round appreciation that Bollywood has decided to do something about it. SRK and Chak De India might just be the shot in the arm that hockey so desperately needs, feel sports people who also follow films. It might encourage youth to take up hockey again.
Former Indian hockey captain Dhanraj Pillai says positively, "This is the very first film based on hockey and it is sure to pep up the youth. Some practice sessions in Chak De India have been shot at the Bombay Hockey Association (BHA) ground and I too trained the girls for a day," he says. But Dhanraj is unhappy that he isn't actually a part of the film. "If I had trained Shah Rukh, I would have shown him some of my signature shots," the legendary star laments.
Talking of the status of Indian hockey currently , veteran player Viren Rasquinha says, "Shah Rukh Khan's film will definitely make this fascinating sport popular again. But we need to pratice regularly. Otherwise the Indian hockey team will not be able to get back the glory of the golden era gone by. Our performance needs to stand out. Ours is a one-sport nation, we need to encourage youngsters to pursue other sports. Parents push their children academically but sports always tends to take a backseat." In Chak De India , the Bollywood hero reportedly plays the role of former goalkeeper M R Negi whose reputation was tarnished when India lost the 1982 Asian Games final in New Delhi to Pakistan and he was accused of throwing the match. The story goes that Negi was under pressure to perform because Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Zail Singh were watching the match. Zafar Iqbal, the Indian hockey captain of that eventful match, recalls, "The entire team had to be blamed and it wasn't only Negi's fault. After that defeat, we were so ashamed that we ventured out only at nights to avoid public glare. But Chak De India might just brighten up that dark spot in Negi's life and I'm looking forward to the film." Former India women's hockey team captain and Padma Shri Selma D'Silva has another take on the sport she was so proud to lead the country in. "I hope the film really brings in an interest and encouragement to the sport. Indian hockey lacks professionalism. Playing cricket is a career. An Indian cricketer draws a salary. But a hockey player has to take up another job to earn a living ," says Selma who recently accepted voluntary retirement from Western Railways. "Films are inspired from real life. So unless hockey becomes a good career option, nothing much can happen."
nimisha.tiwari@timesgroup .com
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...ow/2165243.cms
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