Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium will remain deserted even in Hockey World Cup 2023
New Delhi. Empty chairs, silence spread all around and waiting for years. While Odisha will be buzzing with the talent of the world’s top hockey teams in the next few days, not only India, but the national stadium named after the world’s best hockey player Major Dhyanchand, Benur will keep waiting for international hockey. This historic stadium in the heart of Delhi was once called the ‘Temple of Indian Hockey’ but international hockey has not been played here for almost a decade.
It is hard to believe that it once resonated with the noise of some 20,000 spectators. When India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in the 2010 World Cup and the Commonwealth Games in the same year, a packed stadium was filled with emotion. The National Stadium (formerly Irwin Amphitheatre), gifted to Delhi by the Maharaja of Bhavnagar, witnessed the first Asian Games in 1951 and players in tears after their defeat to Pakistan in the 1982 Asian Games hockey final.
It was on this ground that Australia scored eight goals on Indian hockey’s chest in the final of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The last international match played here was the 2014 Hero World League Final. Inter-departmental hockey of the institutes is held here occasionally. Bhubaneswar became the center of international hockey due to the indifferent attitude of the then Indian hockey administration towards Delhi and the sports love of the Odisha government, which emerged as a troubleshooter for Indian hockey at that time. Be it the World Cup or the Pro League or the Champions Trophy, all have been hosted by Odisha, leaving Delhi with its doors shut.
Ajay Kumar Bansal, former coach of the Indian junior and women’s hockey team and former administrator of the National Stadium, believes Odisha’s contribution to hockey is commendable but international matches should be held at other centers as well. He said that the attraction of the National Stadium is different. I remember coming here to watch the 1982 Asiad final from Patiala where I was doing my coaching diploma course at that time. I still remember that atmosphere. He said that after that during the 2010 World Cup, I was the official here and people from all over the country came here to watch the matches. But in the last ten years, it has been completely neglected, which also hurts the players and coaches.
Bansal said that what Odisha has done for Indian hockey is commendable and there is no problem in holding events like World Cup there. But to keep hockey alive in this stadium, Test matches, bilateral series or Asia level matches can be played here. Tournaments can be organized. Here the Hockey Academy of the National Center of Excellence of the Sports Authority of India is located, in which regular practice takes place. Apart from this, some children come and play hockey under SAI’s ‘Come and Play’ scheme, although they miss the lack of watching international matches.
Ritesh, who has been practicing here for the last eight years, said that I have been playing here for eight years and I have seen only one international match. If matches continue to be held here, more children will be inspired to play hockey. Full facilities, one main pitch and two practice pitches, blue astro turf, 16200 spectators capacity and Lutyens Delhi area. Despite this, the statue of Major Dhyanchand standing with a stick in hand at the main gate of the stadium along with the hockey lovers of Delhi is also waiting for international hockey to happen here.
