PREVIEW: While Bollywood brigade, political class are expected to be in attendance at the more glamorous event, the Hockey World League (HWL) Semi-Finals encounter is also expected to grab eyeballs.
For those, who won’t get the tickets for the cricket match, they can travel an hour up north to Milton Keynes to see Manpreet Singh’s deft skills, SV Sunil’s searing runs down wide right.
It will also be an occasion where the love for hockey that many profess during coffee table conversations will be tested.
Call it Pakistan’s decapitated sporting structure and India’s rapid strides, the gulf between neighbouring nations have widened across sporting disciplines.
Harsh but truth is that against Pakistan, the rivalry is an idea borne out of all the acrimony that has festered on for years now.
The sporting rivalry against Pakistan is an idea that ignites a certain surge of rage and nationalism in Indian public.
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Gone are those days when a victory against a Pakistan cricket side comprising Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akramand Salim Malik used to evoke a tremendous sense of satisfaction.
Similarly, beating a Pakistan hockey side that had Shahbaz Ahmed, Tahir Zaman or later Sohail Abbas or Rehan Butt would feel special.
An average Indian fan knew the names of those iconic Pakistani cricketers or hockey players. But today, if Azhar Ali or Hasan Ali walks down the street, one can bet his last shirt that seven out of 10 Indian fans will need a third or fourth glance to recognise.
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