India crash out of hockey WC, fans search for answers

Bhubaneswar: It was as if someone had pulled the plug on an audio system. The Kalinga Stadium, which was once a cacophony of sounds, had suddenly fallen silent as India failed to convert their crucial penalty shootout to crash out of the hockey World Cup on Sunday.
Up 3-1 at one point of time, India’s capitulation left spectators stunned. Some were in tears while others raged against the disappointing performance of the home team, which could not even progress to the quarter-finals.
“We don’t deserve this. Indian players disappointed us. I had come to the stadium with so much hope, but the loss is going to hurt for days to come,” said a visibly upset young girl while leaving the stadium after India’s defeat to New Zealand, who reached the quarters.
Like other days when India played, hockey fans were full of excitement and enthusiasm as they thronged the Kalinga Stadium for the cross-over match. The stadium was packed to the rafters in the do-or-die match for India. Since morning social media platforms were abuzz with prayers and wishes for the host team. From governor Ganeshi Lal to chief minister Naveen Patnaik and Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey, everyone wished the best for the men in blue.
“It was not our day. Our boys played well and tried hard, but maybe luck was not in our favour today,” said Dr Shivaram Prasad Singh, a heartbroken Indian fan.
“We enjoyed every moment of the match, the thrill and excitement of the match was superb. In every match one team will win and the other will lose. So, we must not take it to the heart. I hope our team will work on its weak points and learn from it,” said Singh, who has been a fan of Indian hockey for five decades.
Many fans could not accept the defeat of the India team so easily. “During the last World Cup, we had at least played in the quarter-finals. I had wished to end my Sunday on a happy note, but now this shocking defeat has left me crestfallen,” said Ratan Kumar Swain, an IT professional.