{image-hockey thotta padam_13032008.jpg news.oneindia.in}Mumbai, Mar 13: Former Indian goalkeeper Mr Ranjan Negi, who shot to fame after the release of ''Chak De! India'', feels that the Cricket Board President Sharad Pawar is the right man to lead the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) for resurrecting the fortunes of Indian hockey.

''I think what Mr Pawar did to cricket. He can do the same thing to Hockey and restore its past glory. He should be made the president of the Indian Hockey Federation, if the game has to survive in the country,'' Negi said. The present Indian women's team hockey coach said that it was time for K P S Singh Gill to step down as he is not in a position to take Indian Hockey ahead.

Stating the the game requires total overhauling, Negi felt Mr Gill could barely walk and has difficulty in vision. It's time we end this. The loss (not qualifying for the Beijing Olympics) has hurt me and Indian Hockey a lot, he added.

''As it is, people are shifting to other sports, with this I hope it doesn't bring the end for the national game,'' said Negi on the sidelines of Bombay Hockey Association's (BHA) protest against the state government's withdrawal of lease to the ground.

He said BHA has given the country so many Olympians and instead of the government supporting the game, they are snatching away the land of its future players.

UNI