The euphoria created after winning 20-20 Finals by Indian team is refusing to die down.With gifts, money and endorsements coming from all directions i.e BCCI, Central State Governments and Corporate/organizations there is a windfall of fortunes for the deserving 15 young Men in Blue.Hope this faith and generosity expressed by one and all is not frittered away and the Men in Blue do not allow this success to go into their heads because they need to brace themselves for the cricket tournaments ahead.

It is true that sports persons have been honoured and given gifts, money and endorsements in the recent past but these have mostly gone to cricketers and few individual sports players. This special treatment to cricket at the cost of other sports in India is disturbing because it makes “other” sport persons to feel that they are being treated equivalent to a “girl child” in the Indian sports family (I respect the sensibilities of a girl child, however I am drawing this parallel to share with the readers that inspite of many well meaning initiatives of the Government , various NGOs and public men and women the treatment given to girl child in majority of Indian households is still a matter of concern).

To rectify the situation I am not advocating that it should be done at the cost of cricket. Let all sports in India blossom and let us all appreciate and give generous incentives to all deserving sport persons.

I have few recommendations to offer for consideration for obviating hardship to Hockey coach and some players who have now decided to go on “dharna” to register their protest (this is not been done to placate these personalities but to recognize their contribution to Indian Hockey) and from now onwards to all “other”sport persons presuming that the nation will continue to look after the cricket players in future also. Firstly, let Men in Blue pass on 50% of their collection to Hockey players who were members of the Asia Cup winning team.

Secondly, Sharad Pawar (BCCI President), Lalu Prasad (President of Bihar Cricket Association) and Arun Jaitley (President of Delhi Cricket Association) and other politicians (only politicians) who are heading BCCI and various State Cricket Associations to relinquish their positions immediately and take on the Presidentship of any Sport Association of their State for the balance period of their term. An exception in respect of Sharad Pawar (BCCI President) is to take over the Presidentship of Indian Hockey Federation, no choice to select a sport of his choice basically to meet the long pending demand of past and present Hockey players to have President FIH incumbent to retire in the interest of hockey. Though this recommendation singles out politicians, however it has been made keeping in mind the resourcefulness and the right connections of the politicians.These attributes are considered necessary to turnaround the state of affairs and financial health of the sport in a short period of time.

Thirdly, FICCI and similar organizations to use their clout to have cash strapped Corporate to volunteer as a “god father” for any sport of their choice for atleast a minimum period of five years.The Government of India and State Governments can offer some tax sops to these Corporate for taking on this objective as part of their Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) agenda.

Though I have more ideas, however I am not sharing these now because I wish to see some forward movement to negate “Are other sports and especially HOCKEY a “girl child” of Indian Sports?” keeping in mind the fact that “strike when iron is hot” (read till cricket euphoria lasts).