Quick question – how many of you know New Delhi is hosting the 2010 World Hockey Cup in February? As in right now. To be precise from February 28 to March 13, 2010 at New Delhi's Dhyan Chand National Stadium. Ah yes, I see…umm…*counts* no hands up! For all the people who did know, I’ll have to say this news broke out recently and a lot of papers carried it and so you know. All others who genuinely knew, hockey is going to bless you and you’re part of a rare breed. This honor was bestowed to India by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in 2007. Loopholes were pointed out and India’s ability to host this event was seriously doubted. FIH reviewed the progress of Indian Hockey Federation's "Promoting Indian Hockey" program and performance in preparing for the event and warned India that it could lose its hosting rights. Finally on July 2008 FIH formally awarded the hosting rights to India.

Bollywood celebrities, soap stars and television personalities have all come out in full force to render their support to what is our National Sport. They are hoping to play the essential part of being a little magnet which would duly attract the Indian populace. But is this technique working? Akshay, a 2nd year student of Economics says “the game of hockey will remain hockey - a game no one watches with the presence of celebrities or not.” Another student, Radhika says “I don’t understand why hockey is our National sport when the Nation obviously prefers cricket over hockey any day.” Such sentiments sure wont help the sport in the coming days. Though the precise reason for hockey’s blatant unpopularity is a mystery, recent controversies aren’t helping either.

 Recently organizers of a charity match between players and bollywood/television celebrities claimed that hockey players demanded a hefty sum of Rupees 5 crore to play. This allegation was denied by players, leading to refusal to play the match at all. They demanded a public and written apology from the organizers. In the end the players didn’t come to the field and celebs were forced to play between themselves. Now that the matches are in progress, they have their fair share of views and thanks to websites such as facebook; people have been dedicating their status-messages to Hockey, rooting all the way for India.