Hockey coach AK Bansal: Sports in India has begun its long road to recovery

Jun 05

ESPN Mobile has a nice interview conducted a nice interview with Hockey coach AK Bansal and what India winning the silver at the Azlan Shah means for us.

Ashish Bhardwaj (AB): After the Azlan Shah silver, people are already taking about a revival in Indian hockey. Isn’t it too premature?
AK Bansal (AKB): I agree with you. Let’s say this is the beginning of a long road to recovery. Let’s not read much into the second position at Azlan Shah. It’s not much of an achievement. On a positive note, let’s say our hockey in back on track and it will be a lot of hard work from now on.

AB: You have worked under the KPS Gill-led Indian Hockey Federation. Now you have an Indian Olympic Association-appointed adhoc committee running the show. Is it any better?
AKB: Even in this case, we have to wait and watch. It’s too early too pass a comment. I have only spent a few days under the new committee. It’s looking good and there are enough reasons to feel positive. Read on…

Now if you take a closer look into this, you do notice that India has come up in sports. Recently, there has been the IPL with all the magestic cricket performances, the Indian hockey team getting laurels, Force India getting a lot of mention at the Grand Prix, and just yesterday, India trashing Nepal in the SAFF football tournament. Granted Nepal is nothing formidable like Germany or The Netherlands, but still, that we have the sporting spirit restored in Indians is enough reason to hope for better days.

What do you think? Is Indian sports about to take make drastic restructuring in the world rankings of sports?