Hockey Set To Return To Grass In 2024: FIH Takes The Call To Make Sport More Viable And Inclusive

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is considering a move back to natural grass in a bid to make the sport more inclusive and feasible, reports the Indian Express. The decision to move back comes forty-two years after the Montreal Olympics, when astroturf was used as playing surface for the first time.

Starting from the 2021 Hockey Series Open, (which will act as qualifiers for 2024 Olympics) natural grass surface will be reintroduced by the FIH. The Hockey Series Open is a tournament for second-rung teams. If implemented, it will ‘allow far more countries to be a part of the Road to Paris,’ FIH CEO Thierry Weil said while making it clear that matches at the highest level will continue to be played on synthetic grass.

For various developing nations, this decision comes as good news. Astro-turfs are far more expensive and high maintenance than regular grass turfs. For an astroturf to be fit to play, it requires 8,000 litres of water. In India, many two-tier cities including Kolkata lack such facilities. Despite making swift progress in Hockey lately, playing on grass surface will benefit players with a weak economic background, who practice on grass or gravel grounds.

India has finished first in Olympics eight times since its first appearance in field Hockey in 1928. Ironically, India has won Gold only once and failed to reach a podium finish since the introduction of astroturf in the Olympics.

Despite not present in the official agenda of the FIH Congress in New Delhi on Saturday, the idea of reintroducing grass surfaces is said to have been floated during the Congress. “The idea we are considering is that Hockey Series Open 2021 can be played on any surface, including grass. Right now, a lot of countries are not able to play because of lack of surfaces, but we can be a lot more inclusive if we allow it,” Weil added.