5 sports which could challenge Cricket in India

4) Hockey

India’s fall from grace in hockey can easily be compared to what has happened to the West Indies in cricket.  From 1928 to 1956, the Indian men’s team remained unbeaten in the Olympics, garnering six gold medals in a row. There were further golds in 1964 and 1980.

They were also crowned champions in the 1975 World Cup. Things came to all time low, when the Indian men’s team failed to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The situation has improved in recent years with a gold medal finish in the 2014 Asian Games. There were also silver medals in the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games and in the 2016 Champions Trophy.

Like kabaddi, hockey too is being promoted through the Hockey India League. The women’s team qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics after a gap of 36 years. This is another recent positive development.

It remains to be seen whether hockey can well and truly be revived in the country. However, no one can argue that it does not have the potential.

About the author

Sitam Chaki