India's once-mighty hockey team is grappling with eroding interest at home after decades of continued failure at the world level.
India's national game until cricket soared in popularity on the back of a shock World Cup victory in 1983, hockey players now jostle for attention alongside golf, shooting and tennis.
The national players were hailed as heroes when they won eight Olympic titles, dominating the game in the first half of 20th century and then claiming the World Cup in 1975.
However, the team has entered the World Cup, which starts in Germany on Wednesday, with none to match the stature or calibre of the past greats.
Their last success globally came at the Moscow Olympics in 1980, where the U.S.-led boycott meant of the 11 teams that competed in Montreal in 1976 only India and Spain were present.
Their last significant title was at the 1998 Asian Games.
A reward of 10 million rupees ($216,076) was announced for winning this year in Germany, a sum few believe will have to be spent by India.
Critics blame the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) for poor management and ignoring domestic events, pointing to the infrequent staging of the national championship
India's national game until cricket soared in popularity on the back of a shock World Cup victory in 1983, hockey players now jostle for attention alongside golf, shooting and tennis.
The national players were hailed as heroes when they won eight Olympic titles, dominating the game in the first half of 20th century and then claiming the World Cup in 1975.
However, the team has entered the World Cup, which starts in Germany on Wednesday, with none to match the stature or calibre of the past greats.
Their last success globally came at the Moscow Olympics in 1980, where the U.S.-led boycott meant of the 11 teams that competed in Montreal in 1976 only India and Spain were present.
Their last significant title was at the 1998 Asian Games.
A reward of 10 million rupees ($216,076) was announced for winning this year in Germany, a sum few believe will have to be spent by India.
Critics blame the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) for poor management and ignoring domestic events, pointing to the infrequent staging of the national championship