By It was a warm morning in Amsterdam in 1928. The sun shone brightly on the stadium, giving it a golden hue, a foreshadowing of what was about to come. The air was thick with anticipation as the Indian hockey team stepped onto the field to play the final match of their 1928 Olympic campaign. Their opponents were none other than the Netherlands, the host team of the 1928 Olympics.
As the Indian team clad in their white jerseys and an Ashoka chakra in the middle, the crowd fell silent, as if they knew they were about to witness history. Slowly and steadily, the Indian team formed a line and performed their national anthem. Among the line-up was an extraordinary player, perhaps the best player India has ever produced, Major Dhyan Chand. The stakes were high as this was India’s first appearance in the Olympics, and the pride of a whole nation rested on the shoulders of these eleven men. For 70 minutes, the Indian Hockey team battled for their pride, and when the dust settled, and the final whistle blew, the scorecard read 3-0 in favour of India, and just like that, India won its first-ever Olympics gold in style. In their 1928 Olympics campaign, the Indian hockey team scored 29 goals in 5 matches and conceded none– a record still standing to this day. However, this was just the beginning, and the best days were still ahead.
A Legacy of Gold: Unmatched Olympic Success
Starting in 1928, India went on to win the next five Olympic golds in a row and a total of eight Olympic gold medals, a feat only achieved by India and the Netherlands. India was the undisputed king of hockey, winning gold in 1928 (Amsterdam), 1932 (Los Angeles), 1936 (Berlin), 1948 (London), 1952 (Helsinki), 1956 (Melbourne), 1964 (Tokyo), and 1980 (Moscow).
The Indian hockey team was known for its dribbling and stickwork, often baffling opponents. The 1932 Los Angeles Olympics were perhaps India’s most successful campaign ever. In the 1932 Olympics, the Indian hockey team scored a staggering 35 goals in only two matches. However, the most notable moment of this Olympics was when India defeated the US hockey team by a score of 24-1—still the largest winning margin in the sport’s history. Again, Major Dhyan Chand was the MVP of the match, as he scored a whopping 12 goals on his own.
Then came, perhaps, the most iconic chapter in Indian hockey history. With Hitler in attendance, India faced Germany in the finals of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The game was played before 40,000 spectators, including the Fuhrer himself, who was mighty impressed by Major Dhyan Chand’s magical game. Again, all eyes were on the start player of India, Major Dhyan Chand, and he didn’t disappoint. Indian went on to win the match with a score of 8-1, with Dhyan Chand scoring 3 goals. This game cemented Major Dhyan Chand’s reputation as one of the greatest hockey players in the history of the sport. So much so that Hitler even offered him a position in the German Army, an offer he politely declined. Many people credited this success to the Britishers, saying the institutions and coaching by the Britishers were what brought prosperity to the Indian hockey regime. However, this notion was shattered in style when the Indian hockey team won gold at the 1948 London Olympics. Led by captain Kishan Lal, the Indian hockey team defeated Great Britain in the finals with a score of 4-0 at the iconic Wembley stadium.
The dominance continued for three out of the next four Olympics, namely 1952 (Helsinki), 1956 (Melbourne), and 1964 (Tokyo), where India defeated the Netherlands (6-1), Pakistan (1-0), and Pakistan (1-0), respectively.
A Stint Of Lacklustre Performances
After 1964, India won another Olympic gold medal in the 1980 Moscow Olympics. This was a weird Olympic, as many countries boycotted the tournament because the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Nonetheless, India went on to win their eighth gold medal after defeating Spain 4-3 in a thrilling final.
However, the years following the 1980 triumph were a bit challenging for the Indian contingent. The introduction of artificial turf, which used plastic grass, changed the game’s dynamics, favouring fast and more physical plays. The worst part was that India’s dribbling and short passing game didn’t translate well on the artificial turf. Even more saddening is that India wasn’t able to adapt to the changes and got lost in the mix. Countries like Australia, Germany, and the Netherlands started dominating the game. It almost seemed like the Indian hockey team would never see another medal at the Olympics, but just like everything, bad times don’t last forever. India again made its way back to the eliminators.
The Resurgence
After a 41-year stint without any Olympic medals in hockey, the Indian team returned with style and showed that dedication and resilience are all you need to get back on track. Most people called it a coincidence or a “lucky” moment for India. However, India proved everybody wrong yet again in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where they defeated Spain 2-1 in the third-place match and won another bronze medal, bringing their total Olympic tally to 10, 8 gold and 2 Bronze.
