AICHI, Japan (TIP): Hockey, though a game that the British brought to South Asia in the late 19th century, has come to be known as a game that members of the South Asian Diaspora took to every corner of the globe.
No competition in this sport is considered complete without Indian Diaspora. Since I have been covering FIH World Cups since 1980 (Mumbai) and summer Olympic Games from 1992 onwards, there has hardly been any occasion when the South Asian Diaspora skipped the elite gathering of hockey playing nations.
The Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, however, have provided the contrast. Even the India-Pakistan encounter, considered one of the most marketable events in contemporary sports, drew a flak here. The semi-final match between two giants of not only South Asian but World Hockey, displayed vintage hockey, displaying some fast vanishing niceties of the game like dribbling, short passes, captivating body maneuvers and also the plethora of exciting moments that get the fans of the sport on the edges of their seats.
It happened exactly like that when the two neighbors and arch-rivals played each other in the semis. Though India survived and won by a last-minute game, the game reminded the fans the vintage hockey they had been waiting to watch. The only missing link had been those fans.
The Gifu Green Stadium had only a handful of people in the stands. And those present were either members of the participating squads or officials of various National Hockey Federations, the Asian Hockey Federation or the International Hockey Federation. Hockey without its dedicated and sincere followers, as is the case with other popular sports like football and cricket, hockey has started losing its link with its followers.
The venue for the Asian Games Hockey was not easily accessible. Even the media personnel covering the hockey competition were cribbing a lot about the arrangements, especially the transport, and lack of basic infrastructure, including covered stands, would have normally got this venue rejected for wanting to meet the minimum guidelines. But the national and international federations do not think twice for compromising the necessities to get sponsors. Sad though. It is not sport but sponsorship or money that has become the organizational mainstay.
These organization or structural problems apart, as was expected of it. Japan does not have a very strong presence in the South Asian Diaspora. Even members of the erstwhile South Asian community from neighboring countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong did not respond as warmly to the Aichi Asian Games.
Incidentally, hardly any Indian corporate or big company figures among the major sponsors of the Aichi Asian Games. Though Japan itself is a huge industrial and business power, it could any day hold any major sporting extravaganza on its own, the absence of major international sponsors has been baffling.
One interesting aspect we noticed has been the assimilation of Nepalese in the local culture. Some of the restaurants and eateries identified as “exclusive places for Indian cuisine” are run by the Nepalese here. While travelling to MMC today, we came across a young Nepalese couple – Subash and Sudha – who have decided to make Japan their second home. Though they do not work in the hospitality industry, they find the atmosphere and opportunities for immigrants attractive.
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