Aslam Sher Khan :: " CHANGES " Were " ORCHESTRATED " To " DETHRONE " The Asian Hockey And Its " MAGIC "
Yet another classic interview of Aslam Sher Khan , which he shared it and spoke about the sordid and the sorbic tale of the deterioration of the Indian Hockey caused by the " ILL-WILL " of the , so called " GHOST - HEADS " Of the Europeans .
The interviewer , Ravi Teja Mandapaka spoke to Sher Khan and has brilliantly put his words of the same which makes a superlative effort for an interesting peruse.
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Khan’s legacy is a testament to excellence, integrity, and unwavering passion—a proud chapter in the rich history of Bhopal’s contribution to Indian field hockey and a shining example for future generations.
Bhopal, the capital state of Madhya Pradesh, is inextricably
linked to the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. That fateful night, the city witnessed one of
the world’s worst industrial disasters. Thousands died within days, and
countless more suffered from chronic health issues from methyl isocyanate, with
the exact number of casualties still debated.
However, beneath the pall of tragedy and the scars it left lies a
different Bhopal, an ancient India. The city, veiled in the memories of the
tragic night of December 1984, also boasts a rich tapestry of sports history –
in India’s National Game.
Ahmed Sher Khan, Abdul Waheed Khan, Ahsan Mohammed Khan, Inam-ur
Rahman, Aslam Sher Khan, Shahid Noor, Syed Jalaluddin Rizvi, Sameer Dad, Anwar
Ahmed Khan, Akhtar Hussain, Latif-ur Rehman, and Habibur Rehman to name a few,
the uncelebrated lives of Bhopal’s hockey players reflect a dedication to sport
and national pride that deserves recognition.
Talk about India’s 1975 Hockey World Cup victory, and the
indelible image of Aslam Sher Khan, a pivotal figure in Kuala Lumpur that year,
will come to life with his hockey stick once again. Born into a legacy of
sporting excellence, Aslam inherited a passion for hockey and a profound
understanding of its nuances. Aslam Sher Khan’s father, Ahmed Sher Khan, has an
Olympic gold medal from the 1936 Berlin Games.
When TSC’s Ravi Mandapaka got in touch with the legend of Aslam
Sher Khan, he remembered his father as an inspiration and said, “My father,
Ahmed Sher Khan, is an Olympic gold medallist. Witnessing his success motivated
me and instilled in me the belief that I could become an Olympic champion. His
profound influence on our family set a bright path for me. I looked up to him
from a young age, learning extensively from his legendary coaching and playing
career. His unwavering self-belief and determination to become an Olympic
champion deeply influenced my aspirations.”
Talking about hockey and the technique, Aslam credited his father
for shaping his playing style and game. He says, “Undoubtedly, my father’s
influence as a human and on my game was monumental. As an Olympic champion and
seasoned coach, his expertise was the bedrock of my development. With his
guidance, I embarked on a journey that saw me represent numerous teams, from my
school and university to state associations. His pivotal mentorship propelled me
forward with unwavering determination and commitment to excellence.”
In India, Sher Khan played for many prestigious teams like the
Indian school team, Vikram University Team, and Bhopal State Association team
before joining the Indian Airlines Hockey Team. Despite facing challenges and
obstacles back then, he remained committed to his passion for sports and
pursued his Indian dreams with determination and perseverance.
His playing career saw him grace the stages of some of hockey’s
most illustrious tournaments. Examples include the Nehru Hockey Tournament, Aga
Khan Diamond Jubilee Tournament, Beighton Cup, and Obaidullah Gold Cup. These
tournaments served as crucibles of competition and offered Sher Khan the
platform to showcase his talents against elite teams from across the globe.
Among his myriad achievements, winning the Nehru Hockey
Tournament in 1971 was a crowning moment. At this very place, Sher Khan and his
team secured a thrilling victory in the final against England and left an
indelible mark on Indian hockey history. The victory affirmed Sher Khan’s
status as a titan of the sport.
During our conversation, Sher Khan reflected on the historic
prowess of the Indian and Pakistani hockey teams, which have long stood as
towering giants in the legions of the sport. Historically, the subcontinental
teams exhibited unparalleled prowess and mastery over the sport and
consistently outclassed their European counterparts for decades. And even after
their bifurcation post-independence, India and Pakistan teams continued to
exhibit a natural and distinctive style of play characterized by intricate
short passes, strategic mind games, and deft manoeuvring—skills that epitomized
their hockey supremacy and proved insurmountable for European adversaries. This
supremacy, deeply rooted in their adeptness on natural surfaces, became a
formidable barrier for European teams to surmount.
In a calculated endeavour to dismantle this hegemony, European
authorities introduced artificial turf and instigated a series of rule changes.
The strategic imposition of synthetic playing surfaces fundamentally altered
the game’s balance in favour of European teams. Among these modifications, the
implementation of rolling substitutions epitomized the shift, which challenged
the traditional and stylistic foundations of Indian and Pakistani hockey.
Sher Khan elucidates that these alterations were not merely
procedural but were orchestrated maneuvers aimed at dethroning the dominant
subcontinental teams. While ostensibly modernizing the sport, the new
regulations inherently disadvantaged the artistic playstyles that had brought
India and Pakistan their legendary success. This pivot towards artificial turf
and rule changes like rolling substitutions signified a profound and deliberate
shift designed to recalibrate the competitive landscape of international
hockey, much to the detriment of its erstwhile champions.
Khan astutely observes that the contemporary iteration of the
sport has evolved into something nearly unrecognizable, resembling an “alien
game.” The sport, once characterized by the intuitive and culturally ingrained
techniques of the subcontinental teams, has been eclipsed by foreign influences
and alterations in regulations and playing conditions.
Consequently, Sher Khan advocates for reinstating Indian coaches
at the helm of the national teams. He emphasizes that only those deeply rooted
in the traditional Indian style can truly nurture and elevate it. Foreign or
European coaches need help to adequately grasp the intrinsic understanding of
the subcontinental approach to hockey (attacking style) that emphasizes
skillful dodging and precise passing. Thus, he underscores the necessity of
entrusting the stewardship of Indian hockey to those who are intimately
familiar with its rich legacy and natural style.
Reflecting on the prolonged hiatus since India’s last triumph in
the Hockey World Cup, Aslam Sher Khan critically analyses the factors
contributing to the team’s diminished success over recent decades. Central to
his argument is the introduction of AstroTurf in the 1976 Montreal Olympics and
the accompanying overhaul of the game’s rules, games driven by European
influence.
Khan attributes India’s decline to these fundamental changes and
asserts that European authorities’ authorities’ play fundamentally diverged
from the traditional Indian game. He points to a significant oversight by the
Indian hockey federation, which failed to protest these sweeping changes.
According to Khan, this lack of opposition allowed the imposition of a style of
hockey in which India could not thrive, presenting an insurmountable challenge
for a nation then classified as a developing country.
The financial burden of installing AstroTurf across the country
further exacerbated the issue. Unlike natural grass, the artificial surface
requires substantial investment and considerably strained India’s resources.
Moreover, India’s climatic conditions in the subcontinent are not conducive to
maintaining AstroTurf, which performs optimally in Europe’s cool European
climates.
Pic - : Prior To the Finals Of Rene Frank International Trophy Against Belgium On december 1975, Aslam Sher Khan Is Seriously Practising For The Finals Of The Same. Seen In The Picture , From Left , Mohinder Singh , Syed Ali And Varinder Singh India Won By 2-0 And The Title
Khan’s critique underscores the incompatibility of the new rules
and surfaces with the Indian style of play, which historically relied on
skillful maneuvers, short passes, and strategic play—attributes ill-suited to
the faster, more physically demanding game on AstroTurf. This seismic shift, he
argues, has not only disadvantaged Indian players but also diluted the essence
of what made Indian hockey formidable on the global stage.
Amongst the myriad players he has had the privilege to share the
turf with, two names shimmer with particular brilliance in his reminiscences:
Inam-ur Rahman and Balbir Singh Garewal. In Aslam’s estimation, their prowess
stands unparalleled. Aslam also reserves a distinguished place for Ajit Pal
Singh and Ashok Kumar.
Anand Datla, a researcher
at Texas A&M and a columnist with the Economic Times, believes
that Aslam Sher Khan made an indelible impression on Indian hockey. He says,
“Sher Khan embodies the spirit of a lion amidst the tumultuous journey of Indian
hockey. Just as he revived the team with a last-minute goal in the 1975 World
Cup semifinal, he also pursued legal action against the formidable Narinder
Batra in Delhi. The 2022 verdict curtailed Batra’s influence on the way for the
CoA and instilled fresh optimism for Indian hockey’s future.
Aslam Sher Khan’s journey from a young boy in Bhopal to the World
Cup reminds us of those who continue to nurture and develop hockey in India. We
must respect and support them.
Mr Shyamal Bhattacharjee, the author was born at West Chirimiri Colliery at District Surguja, Chattisgarh on July 6th 1959 He received his early education at Carmel Convent School Bishrampur and later at Christ Church Boys' Higher Secondary School at Jabalpur. He later joined Hislop College at Nagpur and completed his graduation in Science and he also added a degree in B A thereafter. He joined the HITAVADA, a leading dailies of Central India at Nagpur as a Sub-Editor ( Sports ) but gave up to complete his MBA in 1984 He thereafter added a Diploma In Export Management. He has authored SIX books namely Notable Quotes and Noble Thought published by Pustak Mahal in 2001 Indian Cricket : Faces That Changed It published by Manas Publications in 2009 and Essential Of Office Management published by NBCA, Kolkatta in 2012, GOLDEN QUOTES on Inspiration, Sorrow, Peace and Life, published by B.F.C Publications, Lucknow, and QUOTES:: Evolution and Origin of Management Electives by Clever Fox Publishing, Chennai and From Dhyan To Dhan :: Indian Hockey - Sudden Death Or Extra Time published by Clever Fox Publishing House and his FIRST book on Hindi poem, which reads as " BHED HAI GEHRA - BAAT JARA SI " published by Books Clinics , Bilaspur , Chhattisgarh. He has a experience of about 35 years in Marketing .
Signature Of Shyamal Bhattacharjee
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