No prelude to Olympics would be complete without a mention of Dhyan
Chand, our hockey legend and a genius. There is not an iota of doubt about it. His stick work and dribbling skills made many see a magician in him.
He was the one who guided team India to 3 successive Olympics golds in 1928, 1932 and in 1936 Olympics in Berlin - where the Fuehrer Hitler, impressed by the legends wizardry offered Dhyan Chand a German citizenship, which the later politely refused.
No wonder he was described as the Wizard of Hockey. He will forever be our BHARAT RATNA (Jewel of India) irrespective of him getting the award. Like his last name (surname) CHAND, which means moon he will be unique among the stars.
Before independence India hardly had any worthy of an opponent in hockey. The first one to challenge India's monopoly in Hockey was its newly formed neighbor Pakistan, who was carved out from it. A good number of players migrated to Pakistan after partition. Most of them who earlier used to play for undivided India came from Lahore which was considered as the hockey capital of pre-partition India.
Soon India started struggling against its neighbor who finally broke India's monopoly by winning Hockey Gold in Rome, 1960. India however came back to win Hockey Gold in Tokyo, 1964.
It was not until 1970s the other hockey powerhouses like Australia, West Germany, Holland and Spain arrived on scene. India won the last Hockey World Cup under the leadership of Ajit Pal Singh in 1975 and have been in decline ever since.
The last Gold came in 1980, Moscow Olympics which was boycotted by the hockey powerhouses Pakistan, Australia, West Germany and Netherlands. We have been waiting for an Olympics medal ever since.
The top 3 forces in Olympics now, Australia, Germany and Netherlands are likely to share the medals. For, India reaching the semifinals is the best case scenario. CHUK DE INDIA- time to resuscitate the past glory.
Chand, our hockey legend and a genius. There is not an iota of doubt about it. His stick work and dribbling skills made many see a magician in him.
He was the one who guided team India to 3 successive Olympics golds in 1928, 1932 and in 1936 Olympics in Berlin - where the Fuehrer Hitler, impressed by the legends wizardry offered Dhyan Chand a German citizenship, which the later politely refused.
No wonder he was described as the Wizard of Hockey. He will forever be our BHARAT RATNA (Jewel of India) irrespective of him getting the award. Like his last name (surname) CHAND, which means moon he will be unique among the stars.
Before independence India hardly had any worthy of an opponent in hockey. The first one to challenge India's monopoly in Hockey was its newly formed neighbor Pakistan, who was carved out from it. A good number of players migrated to Pakistan after partition. Most of them who earlier used to play for undivided India came from Lahore which was considered as the hockey capital of pre-partition India.
Soon India started struggling against its neighbor who finally broke India's monopoly by winning Hockey Gold in Rome, 1960. India however came back to win Hockey Gold in Tokyo, 1964.
It was not until 1970s the other hockey powerhouses like Australia, West Germany, Holland and Spain arrived on scene. India won the last Hockey World Cup under the leadership of Ajit Pal Singh in 1975 and have been in decline ever since.
The last Gold came in 1980, Moscow Olympics which was boycotted by the hockey powerhouses Pakistan, Australia, West Germany and Netherlands. We have been waiting for an Olympics medal ever since.
The top 3 forces in Olympics now, Australia, Germany and Netherlands are likely to share the medals. For, India reaching the semifinals is the best case scenario. CHUK DE INDIA- time to resuscitate the past glory.
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