Indians lack fitness, speed and stamina: Ajitpal Singh

By Paritosh Pramanik

“GONE are the days when hockey was known by its artistry. Today, it has become a hit-and-run game. Only the fittest can survive on the green turf. The reason for India’s downfall is that players lack fitness, speed and stamina,” said three-time Olympian Padmashri Ajitpal Singh while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ on the sidelines of Gafoorbhai memorial hockey tournament at Dr Ambedkar College ground, on Thursday.
The World Cup winning Indian captain said Europeans were way ahead of India in fitness and stamina. “They (Dutch, Germans and even Australians) are very fit and work very hard on their stamina. They play with great speed.
“In India we lack all the three qualities. We should develop speed from grassroots level. This game is too slow,” Ajitpal said pointing to the match between Dr Ambedkar College Sports Academy and Athletic Club.
The former centre-half ducked questions on need of foreign coach. “After Olympics debacle, India have done well in Champions Trophy and Asian Champions Trophy under (Michael) Nobbs...It’s upto you (media) to decide,” said Ajitpal.
“A coach should talk with players as much as he can. Then only he can know a player inside out. He should get personal with them and should discuss vital, including personal, problems,” he suggested.
Ajitpal said Hockey India should send Indian coaches to China and other countries to learn coaching. Indian coaches have talent but need to be fine-tuned. I think they can become world famous coaches,” he opined.
The former Border Security Force player gave a thumbs up to Hockey India League and said it brought money in the game.
“Today Sardar Singh is getting Rs 45 lakh...When was last time a hockey player had earned this much of money in a short span? Hockey India must be thanked for their initiative. And the tournament too was a huge success. I was manager with Delhi Waveriders. People’s response at each and every venue was overwhelming,” said Ajitpal.
Lamenting the bottom place finish at Olympics, Ajitpal called it a “disgraceful moment” in Indian history but added that things have changed in last few months.
On the Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation feud Ajitpal said they should come together and sort out the differences. “The game has suffered a lot and this bickering should end.”
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Of yellow card and memories

By Paritosh Pramanik

HOCKEY umpire Gurumurthy Pillay might have officiated his last international match decades ago but there are several international stars who still remember this ‘no-nonsense’ umpire.
On Thursday, three-time Olympian Ajitpal Singh was pleasantly surprised to see ‘Guru Anna’ at Dr Ambedkar College ground where he was invited to inaugurate a tournament. Ajitpal recounted how he was yellow-carded by Pillay during the World Cup hockey in Bombay in 1982.
“Ajitpal committed a foul which was unpardonable and I had to suspend him with a yellow card. After that incident we met on quite a few occasions, at some tournaments, at railway stations, at airports...and Ajitpal always recalled that incident,” said Pillay while talking to ‘The Hitavada’.
The two were seen reminiscing memories of old matches. Pillay also inquired about former stars of Indian hockey.
The duo told this scribe that at one time Indian hockey had nine players from Border Security Force. “We were so dominant in those days that in a few tournaments we had almost our entire BSF team. Once there were nine players on the field,” narrated Ajitpal.