Indian Hockey & Sansarpur Hockey

In 1928 an all India team was selected to represent India in the Olympic hockey championship held in Amsterdam. At the first attempt India established itself as the foremost combination in the world and won the coveted Olympic gold medal. India continued to dominate the Olympic scene in the succeeding Olympics, winning in 1932, 1936, 1948, 1952 and 1956. Then in 1960 it was robbed its world title by Pakistan. In 1964 (Tokyo ), India again won gold medal. In 1968 for the first time in the Olympic history India failed to qualify for the finals. In 1968 and 1972 Olympics India finished third. The next Olympic held in Montreal in 1976 was a complete disaster for India. For the first time India finished out of medal table, slumping to seventh place in the final order. This might well have been the virtual end of India as an international hockey power, bit for a surprising set of circumstances. In the 1980 Moscow Olympic, though depleted, India again took the Olympic crown for the eight time. India’s triumph was, however short-lived. The period after 1980 we may count as a black period for the Indian hockey when we hardly succeeded in any international tournament. In 1984 (Los Angeles) India finished only fifth. In 1988 (Seoul), India finished sixth and in the Olympic at Barcelona India finished only seventh. India also touched its lowest ever position (eight) in the 1996, Atlanta Olympic games.

Hockey was included in the Olympic games in 1908 and then in 1920 and afterwards in each Olympics from 1928 when India participated in the competition for the first time from 1928 to 1964 India continued on the top of the Olympic hockey.

The history of Indian hockey is known for the way the game is played and also its players. Eight time Olympic champions, once world champions (1975), twice Asian champions (1966 &1998), they will always arouse interest wherever they play. For long the Indian were the unchallenged leaders but artificial fields have introduced a new dimensions to the game and they are no longer on top. Many countries in Europe, Asia and elsewhere have made tremendous progress in the hockey and thus have surpassed India . This situation undoubtedly is very embarrassing for India. Efforts are being made at different levels to regain our repute in hockey by popularising sport in various parts of the country. Earlier the sport used to be considered with places like Jalandhar, Bhopal, Jhansi, Gwalior, Calcutta, Allahabad. Of these, Jalandhar has had a great contribution in the field of hockey, specially due to a large number of national and international players from its village Sansarpur.

Filed under: 3.Indian Hockey