Why squash at National Stadium?

It seems, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju is on a needless overdrive to create more “centres of excellence.” The latest in his list is squash which is hardly high priority for India except when it comes to the Asian Games.

Nobody minds squash, a very fast racquet sport being promoted. However, to choose the historic National Stadium in the Capital, now renamed Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium after the Indian icon defies logic.

It is well known, over the last few years the Govt of India has usurped huge space (rooms) inside the National Stadium. So  much so, the venue situated close to a defence barracks and the Coastguard office has less hockey activity in it.

When the Orissa government under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik started promoting sport, hockey and athletics got priority. The city of Bhubaneshwar and a few more centres are coming up to promote the sport of hockey big time.  The next FIH World Cup will also be held in 2023 in three venues in Orisssa.

As regards the National Stadium, most rooms being occupied by sarkari offices means the complex can never host a full-fledged FIH event. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Stadium has become inaccessible for hockey activity. This had been pointed out by Hockey India as well.

For old timers who have visited the historic stadium, it hosted the first Asian Games here in 1950. After that, it was used regularly for hockey and before that even for athletics.

When the Asian Games were held in 1982 in New Delhi, the stadium hosted hockey where India were thrashed by Pakistan in the final. Later, the 2010 Commonwealth Games and a few more FIH events were also held here.

However, in the last two years, what is traditionally a SAI venue has been reduced to a sheer historical place of hockey romance.

One wonders why squash has been chosen and new courts will be put up here. Is it seriously for developing talent or babus in the government will use it for their own recreational activity is the questions being asked.

The only thing impressive about the venue now is a stature of Dada Dhyan Chand at the entrance, which, again, is graced on August 29 every year on his birthday by the sports minister.

Squash instead of hockey? Come on, why ruin our national game further in the heart of the Capital.