Former hockey Olympians Vasudevan Bhaskaran and Ashok Kumar Dhyan Chand have supported the view that the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs should be vacated from Major Dhyan Chand Stadium in New Delhi.
Both former players said in unison that sports stadiums should be used for sportsrelated activities only.
Bhaskaran, captain of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold-winning Indian hockey team, said “In stadiums, some space should be given to sports federations instead of ministries, as it used to be. Along with this, sports museums should be opened at the stadium premises.”Ashok Kumar also said, “stadiums should have sports events and sports-related activities only.”
On the occasion of National Sports Day Rakesh Thapliyal, a hockey lover has written a letter to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi requesting him that the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs from Major Dhyan Chand Stadium should be vacated and honour Major Dhyan Chand with Bharat Ratna.
“I have seen that a small museum has been built in Lords Stadium in London and the visitors have to buy tickets to go there. I and Ashok played a four-nation hockey tournament on the grass at this ground in1978. The same should be done in every stadium in our country, if the tourism department promotes it, people will come to the stadium. I have given SAI my blazer, hockey stick, etc. for the museum” said Bhaskaran.
Ashok feels sad and says, “The stadium was named after Dhyan Chand but you see how many years have passed without any international hockey tournament in this historical stadium. Neither national competitions nor international events are held at this stadium. The Ministry of Home Affairs is very sensitive. It does not match the sports. The decision to open its office at Dhyan Chand Stadium was a big surprise. It was not okay, it should change. Players must be having problems. Players want to roam freely. It is no longer possible.”
“Why are the people who should speak about this silent? Hockey India and the Indian Olympic Association should raise this issue. Retire Players like us cannot do anything.”
On the demand of giving Bharat Ratna to his late father Major Dhyan Chand, Ashok said, “I will not say anything on this. It is a matter of your people. The player who brought laurels to the country should be honored. He was a pillar. I would only say that he played for the country, he won matches, won gold medals. Had it not happened, would we have had such a good history of hockey. Probably not.”