'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAEAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAb/2gAIAQEAAAAALIf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAECEAAAADf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAEDEAAAAF//xAAfEAACAgIBBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMFAAQGERYiM3H/2gAIAQEAAT8AqLiymLxGy31DIACu1ICvzyzd5lydNyde4bQ9JGHvz//EABgRAQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAgQS/9oACAECAQE/AMq2Xqf/xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAv/aAAgBAwEBPwCn/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What’s the story?
Cricket is well and truly the heart and soul of India, no doubt about that, but does that give it superiority and preference over other sports? Ideally, it shouldn’t happen.
But time and again, it has happened and has gone unnoticed or has fallen on deaf ears. This time around, it was hockey, as a second-division match in Kolkata had to be abandoned as a cricket match had been played at the venue, earlier.
In case you didn’t know…
Very recently, it was decided that the turf at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi was to be dug up so that it could host an ODI between India and West Indies. However, this decision did not sit very well with the few but proud football fanatics in the country.
As a result, they started the #SaveKochiTurf campaign. And eventually, they got what they wanted as the match was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram.
The heart of the matter
The match in question was to be held between Bishalakshi SA and Calcutta Rangers Club fell through in spite of both teams being present at the Police Ground where the match was scheduled to be played. The reason being that the ground could not be prepared for hockey as a cricket match was scheduled there.
Cricket has long been encroaching on other sports. This is one of the reasons why India is not able to live up to its potential in events such as Olympics, Commonwealth Games etc.
While football fans acro the whole nation came together to support the cause of football, nothing of that sort happened when it came to hockey, a sport that ironically, many proudly relate to India's freedom movement.
What’s next?
The victory via the #SaveKochiTurf campaign might just be the spark and the epiphany that the people of this nation needed. There is still a lot of time, and undoubtedly a lot of talent in this nation. If given the right kind of support and platform, they could do wonders and make history.
Author’s take
It was very sad to hear that a hockey match had been cancelled due to cricket. However, the #SaveKochiTurf campaign has certainly given a lot of hope and has proven that if people come together in support of anything, there is no stopping them.
