I can understand what West Indies cricket fans must be undergoing for the last few years. I feel the same about Indian Hockey. I am surprised I am writing this, because Hockey has or had never spurred any thing for me, except the oft-repeated pride of bringing Olympic Gold Medal 8 times for India.
I was going through the Sports News on a website. India had taken a 2-0 lead in a 4-match series against Argentina. I don’t know why but I felt pleasantly surprised. They at least were winning some matches, after failing even to qualify for the Beijing Olympics, 2008 (Seriously, how many of you knew this?). Then after a few days, I again read how they had lost the last two matches to leave the series squared. Naturally my enthusiasm was nipped in the bud. Why should I follow Indian Hockey when it doesn’t give me anything except pity? Nevertheless I opened the site for International Hockey Federation to see how deep the abyss has grown for Indian Hockey. The ABN-AMRO International rankings were a boot in the heart, but I should have expected it. Indian Men’s team ranking is 11th and Women’s team is 14th. Huh! Anyway, to relive the acclaimed past, I opened the Archives section.
Like a grown child flipping the yesteryears’ album, I started sailing through the days when the wins courted our head and feet. Each fact brought a flitting smile and then an unfailing poignance. The Black & White pictures of Indian Hockey Players flaunting their gold medals at various Olympics were too familial to distance. I was held spellbound, and also shamefaced for living in an age of denial. Peruse yourself:-
• The Indian men’s team has won a record number of 8 Olympic Gold Medals. They won six successive Olympic gold medals (1928 - 1956).
• India won all five matches played in Melbourne 1956 with a goal difference of 38 for and 0 against.
• India has scored a record 415 goals in 114 Olympic matches.
• In Los Angeles 1932, Roop Singh scored 10 goals in India's 24-1 victory over USA.
• India's Ajit Singh scored the fastest goal in Olympic history when he scored after only 15 seconds in the opening match in Montreal 1976 against Argentina.
• In Amsterdam 1928 (5 matches) and in Melbourne 1956 (5 matches), India won Olympic gold without conceding a single goal.
• India defeated USA 24-1 in Los Angeles 1932. This is the biggest victory in Olympic history.
• In Berlin 1936, Hitler was so impressed with the game of Dhyanchand that he offered him the post of General in his Army.
The list of indelible facts goes on …. But now all that is left from the seemingly pre-historic period is a dolmen, an enigma that stands like the words from a lost alphabet. No wonders, a few drops of tears have just rolled down my cheeks.
