Things came to a head when FIH president Els van Breda Vriesman told this correspondent in Doha that the IHF had sent an appeal to the world body to save its honour. “FIH officials have visited Delhi and have had over 400 meetings,” she had said. Four hundred? “Yes, with several officials and departments.”

The FIH was hopeful. “India is of a billion people, and talent is in abundance. You just need to scratch the surface. The help is administrative. And I am always happy with people who admit their failures and mistakes and want to do something about it and make the right moves, do the right approaches.”

Not even two years have passed since, and the “right approaches” have resulted in the “right” result, it would seem.